29 July 2025 – BANGUED, ABRA. The Provincial Statistical Offices (PSOs) of Abra and Apayao successfully concluded their joint 2025 Midyear Performance Review (MYPR) and Provincial Planning Workshop (PPW) from July 16-18, 2025, at MGG Beach Resort in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur. The three-day intensive workshop brought together personnel from both provinces to collectively assess their accomplishments for the first half of 2025, identify challenges encountered, and recalibrate strategies to enhance PSO operations in the coming months.

The activity commenced with preliminaries and a message from PSO Abra Chief Statistical Specialist (CSS) Felixberto B. Perdido, followed by an overview of the three- day activity presented by CSS Geoffrey B. Calimuhayan of PSO Apayao. Personnel then thoroughly reviewed each province's performance against targets for various statistical programs, civil registration services, and National ID System. Discussions focused on best practices, areas for improvement, and innovative approaches to overcome operational challenges. A portion of the workshop was dedicated to the provincial planning for the remainder of 2025. Participants engaged in breakout sessions to develop more robust and responsive work plans, focusing on improving data quality, increasing public awareness of statistical products, and strengthening partnerships with local government units and other stakeholders. Emphasis was placed on ensuring the timely and accurate delivery of statistics crucial for local planning and policy formulation.

Chief Statistical Specialists of both PSOs expressed their commitment to fostering greater inter-provincial collaboration and knowledge sharing. They highlighted the importance of this joint activity in standardizing procedures, streamlining operations, and collectively addressing regional statistical challenges. The successful conduct of the Joint 2025 MYPR and PPW underscores the dedication of PSOs Abra and Apayao to uphold the Philippine Statistics Authority's mandate of providing accurate, timely, and relevant statistics for sustainable development in their respective provinces and the Cordillera Administrative Region.