PSA Benguet conducts the Third Quarter Aquaculture Survey (QAqS) and Municipal Inland Fisheries Survey (QIMFS)

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Benguet Provincial Office will conduct the Third quarterly Aquaculture Survey (QAqS) and Municipal lnland Fisheries Survey (QIMFS) this September 2022.

Aquaculture remains an important source of fish food amid the depleting marine resources. This sector is often the target beneficiary of programs and policies because it operates under controlled conditions. The QAqS is a quarterly survey that generates estimates of volume and value of production that covers operations involving all forms of raising and culturing fish and other fishery species in fishpond, fish cages, rice fish culture, small farm reservoirs, and fish pens.

The Municipal inland fishery on the other hand, is a survey on volume and price of fish by species, caught by households engaged in inland fishing. lt also refers to catching of fish, crustaceans, mollusks and all other aquatic animals and plants in inland water like lakes, rivers, dams, and marshes using simple gears and fishing boats some of which are non-motorized with a capacity of less than three (3) gross tons, or fishing not requiring the use of fishing boats.

The general objective of the survey is to come up with volume and value of production for the reference quarter. Specifically, it aims to: generate provincial and regional commercial and municipal fisheries production and value estimates by species; generate provincial and regional aquaculture production and value estimates by aquafarm type/ environment and by species; to generate provincial and regional area and yield estimates by aquafarm type/ environment and by species; and, generate total fisheries production and value estimates by province by sub-sector.

Fisheries outputs form part of the estimation for the performance of agriculture and eventually, of the National Accounts for the generation of Gross Value Added (GVA), Gross National Product (GNP) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The data sets generated out of this activity serve as basis for researchers and policy formulation. Hence, reliable and accurate production data is very essential.

These fisheries surveys were reviewed and cleared for the conduct under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism being implemented by the PSA by virtue of Rule 28 of the lmplementing Rules and Regulations (lRR) of the Republic Act (RA) 10625 to:

• a. ensure sound design for data collection;

• b. minimize the burden placed upon respondents;

• c. effect economy in statistical data collection;

• d. eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and

• e. achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

Under Section 26 of RA 10625, the information gathered from the respondent will be held strictly confidential and cannot be used for purpose of taxation, investigation or enforcement procedure, nor will be published except in the form of statistical summaries in which no reference to any individual person shall appear.

ln line with this, the PSA Benguet Provincial Statistical Office asks for the cooperation of the barangay officials and the farmer-producers of crops to support and participate in the survey by providing the information needed. Statistical Researchers (SR) will visit the household to conduct personal interview.