The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) enjoins the public to support the conduct of 2022 Women Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Development Index Survey (WIDI) on 31January to 28 February 2022 for the province of Benguet and Baguio City.

The Women and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Development Index Survey is the first national survey on ICT focusing on women and girls in the country.

The WIDI aims to gather baseline data on women and girls in terms of access, use, and skills in ICTs. The information that will be obtained from the survey is essential for the government to craft appropriate evidence-based policies and programs to help women and girls in the productive use of ICTs. Baseline indicators from the survey results shall reveal the different roles of women relative to technology use and shall present opportunities to their active participation in the ICT sector, leading to empowerment.

The PSA will utilize the use of Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) application using tablet and Paper and Pen Personal Interviews (PAPI) as methods of data collection during field enumeration.

PSA-Benguet Provincial Statistical Office hired four (4) Statistical Researchers to visit 384 households in Baguio City and also 384 households in Benguet covering the municipalities of Atok, Bokod, Bakun, Buguias,Itogon, Kabayan, Kapangan, La Trinidad, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay. PSA-Benguet appeals to the sample households to cooperate and provide truthful, complete, and accurate information to the enumerators.

The PSA adheres to the principles of transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality pursuant to R.A. No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and R.A. No. 10625 or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013. All information gathered on the survey are confidential and not for disclosure unless authorized by law. Moreover, PSA will release data only in the form of summaries or statistical tables.

The office assures the public that required public health and safety measures to contain COVID-19 will be strictly observed in all phases of field operations. All PSA personnel and hired field interviewers and team supervisors who will be deployed are in good health condition and will strictly follow precautionary measures against COVID-19, such as wearing of face mask and face shield, physical distancing, proper hygiene and sanitation, and wearing of PSA ID. They shall likewise observe all protocols laid down by the Local Government Units (LGUs).