With the aim to inform the stakeholders of the different products and services of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and recognize the media’s significant role and contributions in increasing awareness of the public on the importance of statistics, the PSA – La Union Provincial Statistical Office conducted the Provincial Annual Media Forum on November 16, 2022 at Agora Event Center, Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos - Poro Point, City of San Fernando, La Union.

The activity started with the Opening remarks of Statistical Specialist II Artemio A. Alibayan. Chief Statistical Specialist (CSS) Juanito Y. Yabes of the Statistical Operations and Coordination Division (SOCD), PSA-Regional Statistical Service Office I (RSSO I) also graced the event and delivered a message on behalf of Regional Director Atty. Sheila O. De Guzman.

The first resource speaker was Supervising Statistical Specialist Malvin A. Quinto who presented the Overview of the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) and 2022 CBMS Nationwide Rollout. The CBMS is an organized technology-based system of collecting, processing, and validating necessary disaggregated data, that may be used for planning, program implementation and impact monitoring at the local level while empowering communities to participate in the process.

Meanwhile, CSS Danites E. Teñido, Ph.D. informed the PhilSys Birth Registration Assistance Project (PBRAP). The PBRAP aims to increase civil registration in marginalized communities, particularly those belonging to indigenous Peoples (IPs), Muslim Filipinos, and the poorest sector. The PSA, in collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Local Government Units (LGUs) principally aims to register those unregistered births aligned with the creation of a single identity card for all Filipinos pursuant to the Philippine Identification System Act (RA No. 11055). The list of identified applicants together with the required information for late registration is subject to the verification of the PSA on the existence of record in the Civil Registry System (CRS) database. The total target number of registrants in La Union based on 2015 Census of Population (PopCen 2015) are 6,293 or 13.98 percent of the 45,000 regionwide target.

Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Provincial Focal Person Joselito N. Lavaro presented on Republic Act (RA) No. 11055, otherwise known as the Philippine Identification System Act, which aims to establish a single national identification system for all citizens and resident aliens of the Republic of the Philippines.   The use and acceptance of the various formats of the PhilSys digital ID, including the printed ePhilID, as a valid proof of identity and age, subject to authentication, was also discussed by Lavaro.   The PhilSys digital ID is a proactive strategy of the PSA to allow registrants to immediately enjoy the benefits of being PhilSys-registered, such as better access to more financial and social protection services pursuant to Section 7 (c) (1) of RA No.11055.

Lastly, Assistant Vice President (AVP) Adeline M. Ramos, Branch Head of the Landbank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), City of San Fernando, La Union disseminated on the use of Landbank Mastercard Prepaid Card. In partnership with the PSA, LANDBANK continues to support the National Government’s agenda of financial inclusion by providing registrants of the PhilSys with their own transaction accounts. With the LANDBANK Mastercard Prepaid Card, cardholders can cash-in, cash-out, and transfer funds at any LANDBANK Branch or Agent Banking Partner. They can also withdraw cash at ATMs and POS terminals, perform cashless transactions, tap payments, and shop online, as well as receive government subsidy digitally.

An open forum followed after all of the resource speakers’ presentations to accommodate queries from the media and stakeholders. 

The Provincial Annual Media Forum has also become an avenue to award PSA-La Union’s media partners for their usual support in disseminating the agency’s various activities to the public. Awardees during the event were media partners from DZAG Radyo Pilipinas, North Luzon Inquirer, The Weekly Ilocandia Inquirer, Bombo Radyo La Union, and DZNL Aksyon Radyo La Union. 

SGD. DANITES E. TEÑIDO, Ph.D.
Chief Statistical Specialist

/MBL

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