Vigan City, Ilocos Sur – Representatives from the Ilocos Sur Provincial Statistical Office recently participated in a three-day training on Statistical Data Management and Analysis for Evidence-Based Decision Making, held from October 14-16, 2024, at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center in Vigan City. Organized by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur (PGIS) in collaboration with the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI), the training was part of the province's 35th National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration.

The event brought together 120 participants, including Municipal/City Planning and Development Coordinators (MPDCs/CPDCs), Data Privacy Officers (DPOs), Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) focal persons, and Provincial Statistics Committee (PSC) members. The Ilocos Sur Provincial Statistical Office was represented by CBMS Statistical Specialist II (SSII)    Alexia A. Reddaus, and PPA/PLDS Statistical Analysts (SAs) Anamarie F. Rapanut, Noreen Cara A. Rebunal, and Bernard Philip D. Fernandez. Rebunal and Fernandez also served as masters of ceremonies throughout the event.

Additionally, Supervising Statistical Specialist John Michael S. Sarabia and Senior Statistical Specialist and CBMS focal person Melchor S. Bautista demonstrated their support by attending and engaging with participants. The PSRTI lecturers were led by Chief Statistical Specialist of the Research Division, Mr. Benedict Roa, while presentations were delivered by Senior Statistical Specialist of the Training Division, Ms. Jazel Ann Raper, and Statistical Specialist II of the same Division, Mr. Ken Zedric Ganan, alongside five facilitators from the Research Division.

The training was designed to enhance the participants' abilities to manage and assess data related to devolved Programs, Activities, and Projects (PAPs) as well as other locally generated data. Through the training, participants were equipped to apply evidence-based decision-making in their roles, contributing to more effective governance. The comprehensive program included discussions and workshops on various aspects of data management and analysis, addressing the competency needs of local government units (LGUs).

The course covered essential topics, beginning with an introduction to data management, which focused on fundamental concepts in statistics, data sources, and data collection methods. Participants then practiced practical data management techniques using Microsoft Excel to enter, clean, validate, and process data, particularly data from surveys and administrative forms. The final segment of the training addressed data utilization and analysis, where participants learned basic statistical analysis techniques and methods for presenting data through statistical tables and charts, crucial for evidence-based planning and decision-making.

The training emphasized the importance of data literacy and proper data management for LGUs, enabling participants to make informed decisions based on accurate and well-processed data. By the end of the program, participants had a deeper understanding of data-related processes and gained valuable skills to manage and analyze data effectively in their roles.

The Ilocos Sur Provincial Statistical Office remains committed to fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making within local government units. Through active participation in initiatives like this training, the office continues to support the enhancement of governance and development efforts in the province.

SGD. JEANETTE M. MARZAN
Chief Statistical Specialist
Ilocos Sur Provincial Statistical Office