PSA notes Northern Samar is a unique model of collaboration for CBMS data build up

The experience of the province of Northern Samar in the completion of the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) is unique, with the remarkable collaboration of the national government, the Provincial Government and Municipal Local Government Units in the collection, build up and completion of the 2022-2023 CBMS data, the national chief of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa, gladly remarked in his visit to the province today, October 14, 2024.

In 2022, the national government fully funded the CBMS implementation in 2 municipalities of Northern Samar, partially funding 8 more municipalities and the Provincial Government supporting the needed funding for these 8 municipalities. With 24 LGUS in Northern Samar, the Provincial Government and Municipal Local Government Units shouldered the CBMS implementation in the 16 remaining LGUs in 2023, completing the CBMS roll out in the entire province.

“Today, we celebrate this very remarkable achievement in our quest for comprehensive and inclusive growth of Northern Samar. Because of our support and collaboration, we are now turning over the full CBMS data to the Provincial Government. This is a perfect example of how collaboration produces excellent results and help in achieving our goals,” Usec Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar, appreciatively said.

Governor Edwin Ongchuan, who accepted the data on behalf of the Provincial Government, profusely thanked PSA for valuably assisting Northern Samar in the provincewide 2022-2023 CBMS survey and analysis. “Meron nang dagdag na pagbabasehan ang probinsya kung nakatulong ang mga programa nito. Pagsisikapan pa nating ibaba ang poverty incidence ng Northern Samar, mapaganda ang investment climate sa tulong ng CBMS data,” Governor Ongchuan declared, stressing the significance of CBMS in data-driven and evidence-based decision-making.

Citing the 2013 data which identified one of the municipalities of the province as the poorest in the country, the Governor recounted how it has helped the Provincial Government and the concerned LGU to push for reforms, thereby contributing significantly to the improvement of the province in terms of poverty incidence ranking.

Governor Ongchuan also commended the support of the MLGUs through their municipal mayors, for providing the needed funding to carry out the CBMS in their areas.

The 2022/2023 CBMS Provincial Data Turnover Ceremony was also attended by PSA Assistant National Statistician Kristine Joy Briones, PSA Regional Statistics Office 8 chief of the Civil registration and Administrative Support Division Rose Ballera, other PSA officials and staff, Vice Governor Clarence Dato and the members of the Sannguniang Panlalawigan, municipal mayors and their MPDCs, MLGOOs, PGNS heads of departments and offices, DICT Provincial office representative and Mr. Eduardo Diaz of the DILG Provincial Office.