The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) conducted community data validation/data review on the preliminary results of the 2021 Pilot CBMS of Baguio City on 03 February 2023 held at Ion Hotel, Baguio City. The activity was attended by PSA and local government unit (LGU) key officials and staff.

The City of Baguio was one of the two (2) LGUs who have the tenacity to join and fund their own 2021 Pilot CBMS Operations in 2021. Among the operational activities of the CBMS, data processing and review is one of the most crucial parts of the undertaking since this will determine the reliability, as to precision and accuracy, of the collected data. Ms. Minerva Eloisa P. Esquivias, OIC Deputy National Statistician of the Censuses and Technical Coordination Office (CTCO), in her message, reiterated the importance and relevance of CBMS. The CBMS will provide data support to a multidimensional poverty analysis. In addition, the CBMS is designed to gather and generate reliable localized data and statistics on health, nutrition, water, housing, sanitation, education and literacy, income, employment, security, migration, disaster preparedness, community participation, status of government projects, and others. Giving her insight, Arch. Donna G. Rillera-Tabangin, City Planning and Development Coordinator, City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), recognizes CBMS to fuel the Smart City Command Center, a data-driven innovation built to help the local government in managing and sustaining its economy, environment, mobility/traffic, and public safety and security.

The preliminary results of the eighteen relevant CBMS indicators were presented and discussed. These are (1) Demographic Characteristics, (2) Migration with focus on Overseas Filipino Indicator, (3) Education and Literacy, (4) Community and Political Participation, (5) Economic Characteristics, (6) Family Income, (7) Food Consumption, (8) Entrepreneurial and Family Sustenance Activities, (9) Financial Inclusion, (10) Government Program, (11) Health, (12) Food Security, (13) Agricultural Activities, (14) Climate Change and Disaster Risk, (15) E-commerce and Digital Economy, (16) Crime Victimization, (17) Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, and (18) Housing Characteristics. The corresponding insights, inputs and recommendations from the LGU department heads and personnel were duly recorded and considered.

Considering the resources and security measures are in place, the PSA committed to deploy the CBMS data files to the City of Baguio the earliest time, once the reliability of all the data were ensured. The PSA announced to conduct the following series of capability building trainings to empower and the capacitate the LGUs, including the City of Baguio: (1) CBMS Module IV: Management and security of the local CBMS databank,  (2) CBMS Module III-A: Uses and applications of the CBMS data I: Poverty indicators and thematic mapping will also be conducted, and (3) CBMS Module III-B: Uses and applications of the CBMS data II: Local government planning and budgeting using the CBMS data.

VILLAFE P. ALIBUYOG
Regional Director