The Philippine Statistics Authority – Regional Statistical Services Office I (PSA-RSSO I) conducts the second level training on systems for the generation of Consumer Price Index (CPI) on September 17 to 19, 2019 at Marand Resort and Spa, Baccuit Sur, Bauang, La Union. The main purpose of the training is to discuss and demonstrate the four systems to the personnel involved in the collection and generation of CPI in the region.

The PSA is committed to continue the use of tablet in price collection and processing of data for the generation of the CPI. This system was discontinued due to the adoption of the 2012-based CPI. The existing systems used in the old base year (2006-based) were not already applicable using the 2012-based CPI because of the updates/changes in the reference files such as the names of stores/outlets, market basket, and weights. In addition, a new method in the computation of the CPI was also adopted in the 2012-based series. Hence, the Price Statistics Division (PSD) requested the Systems Development Division (SDD) together with the Systems Quality Assurance Division (SQAD) for the development of the various systems.

The four applications that were developed for purposes of the generation of the CPI are the following: CPI Store Management Application for the updating/cleaning the list of stores/outlets; Price Tag system for the encoding and processing of prices using the android mobile device; CPI Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) Management Application for the registration of android mobile devices and price collectors, and for downloading of price data; and CPI Data Processing System for validating and generating CPI.

The four provinces will designate their regular personnel, Contract of Service Workers (COSWs) and Job Orders (JOs) to collect price quotations of assigned and selected commodities of each store as their samples. The trainer of the second level training isStatistical Specialist I Jayson Benedict U. Contreras of Central Office.

The use of the four systems will be implemented during the fourth quarter of 2019 in the PSA Central and Field Offices.