The Philippine Statistics Authority – Cordillera Administrative Region (PSA – CAR), launched the 2024 Census of Population and Community-Based Monitoring System (POPCEN-CBMS) on 12 July 2024 at the Paragon Hotel, Baguio City.

PSA – CAR Regional Director Villafe P. Alibuyog imparted the 2024 POPCEN-CBMS operations and its role in community development. She remarked that the POPCEN facilitated the identification of individuals in the country without birth registrations and was even utilized in the development of national programs such as the Bayanihan to Arise as One bill during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also emphasized that in Baguio City, the local officials used the 2021 CBMS result to update their database of senior citizens who may be given financial assistance. Planners and policy-makers maximized the same result for the Asian Development Bank-assisted implementation of the Faecal Sludge Management Plan, and traffic and transportation management studies. Director Alibuyog added that the official population counts can be anticipated to be released by December of this year.

The activity also highlighted the messages of support given by National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-CAR Regional Director Susan A. Sumbeling, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-CAR Policy and Plans Division Officer-in-Charge Chief Marifil C. Jugal, and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-CAR Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division Assistant Chief Bable G. Adnol.

Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-CAR Regional Director Helen R. Tibaldo facilitated the open forum where queries from onsite and online participants were addressed by panel members composed of Director Alibuyog of PSA-CAR, Director Sumbeling of NEDA-CAR, Ms. Jugal of DSWD-CAR, Ms. Adnol of DILG – CAR, together with Mr. Aldrin Federico R. Bahit Jr. of PSA – CAR, and Ms. Imelda L. Buyuccan of PSA- Benguet. This was shortly followed by the ceremonial launching and photo opportunity.

To optimize government resources and to avoid fatigue to respondents, the PSA deems it necessary to integrate the POPCEN with the CBMS operations ahead of its original schedule in 2025. Data collected from the 2024 POPCEN-CBMS will be used in updating the inventory of the country’s population, as well as the list of beneficiaries of social protection initiatives. It will also serve as basis in targeting households in the planning, formulation, and implementation of programs and projects geared towards poverty alleviation.

Due to the importance of this joint major statistical activities, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. declared July 2024 as the “National Census and Community-Based Monitoring System Month” last July 9, 2024.

We enjoin the public to support the conduct of the 2024 POPCEN-CBMS by providing truthful information and cooperating with our enumerators. The enumeration period officially begins on 15 July 2024.

(SGD)
VILLAFE P. ALIBUYOG
Regional Director
PSA RSSO-CAR

AFRBJ/RJPA/JMO