NSCB MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO.  01- 09

TO: The Heads of Departments, Bureaus, Offices, and Instrumentalities of the National Government, Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations, State Universities and Colleges, Local Government Units, and the Private Sector

SUBJECT: Celebration of the 20th National Statistics Month in October 2009

1. Purpose

This Memorandum Circular is issued to enjoin all agencies of the government, academic institutions and the private sector at the national and subnational levels to actively participate in and support the celebration of the 20th National Statistics Month (NSM) in October 2009.  This activity is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647, Declaring the Month of October of Every Year as the National Statistics Month, issued on September 20, 1990.

2. Objectives

In general, the observance of this event has two-fold objectives, viz: (a) to promote, enhance, and instill nationwide awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of society, and (b) to elicit the cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics in the country.

3. Theme and Sub-Theme

The 20th NSM shall have for its overall theme:

“Enhancing Security Sector Statistics for Good Governance,
Peace and Sustainable Development”

This theme may be translated into other major Philippine dialects.  Depending on the focus and direction of its statistical activities, an agency or region may choose to have its own sub-theme.

4. Suggested Activities

Activities may be undertaken by an agency or a region in accordance with the capabilities of the participating agencies/regions.  These may be in the form of symposia, workshops, orientation seminars, exhibits, slide shows, and publication of statistical reports, indicators and other relevant information, among others, with particular emphasis on the theme and the agency’s/region’s selected sub-theme, if any.

Participating agencies are requested to display their own NSM streamers to be displayed at their building façade throughout the month of October following the prescribed format.  Likewise, they are encouraged to disseminate the consolidated calendar of activities, posters, and other promotional materials to be provided by the NSM Secretariat.

5. Coordination of Activities at the National Level

The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) has created the National Statistics Month (NSM) Steering Committee to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the various activities and programs to be undertaken during the month-long celebration.  The Committee shall be composed of representatives from the following government departments and agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector:

National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB)
Department of National Defense (DND)
Department of Trade and Industry  (DTI)
National Statistics Office  (NSO)
Bureau of Agricultural Statistics  (BAS)
Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics  (BLES)
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas  (BSP)
Statistical Research and Training Center  (SRTC)
Department of Budget and Management  (DBM)
Department of Education  (DepEd)
Department of Environment and Natural Resources  (DENR)
Department of Health  (DOH)
Department of the Interior and Local Government  (DILG)
Department of Science and Technology  (DOST)
Department of Tourism  (DOT)
National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women  (NCRFW)
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
Central Luzon State University (CLSU)
Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology  (MSU-IIT)
University of Asia and the Pacific (UAP)
University of the Philippines Institute of Statistics  (UP INSTAT)
University of the Philippines School of Statistics  (UPSS)
University of the Philippines in the Visayas  (UPV)
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines  (TUCP)
Philippine Statistical Association, Inc.  (PSA)

The Committee shall be chaired by the NSCB Secretary General and co-chaired by the  DND Undersecretary for Defense Affairs.  The DTI shall serve as the vice-chair.

Various Subcommittees with specific terms of reference shall also be created.  The NSCB Technical Staff shall serve as secretariat to the Steering Committee and Subcommittees.

6. Coordination of Activities at the Subnational Level

For the regional celebration of the event, the Regional Statistical Coordination Committees (RSCCs) under the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) are hereby designated as the coordination bodies for all NSM activities.  The NSCB Regional Divisions (RDs) shall provide technical and administrative support to their respective RSCCs.  In areas where there are no RDs, the RSCCs shall create or designate a group that will provide technical and administrative support in this undertaking.

Fund Contribution

The participating agencies/organizations in the NSM celebration are requested to earmark funds for their respective activities as well as for common NSM activities. While funds of participating agencies for their own celebration shall come from their respective agencies, the funds for common NSM activities such as interagency forum, publicity and promotional materials, and other interagency activities shall be sought from contributions of participating agencies and other possible donors, subject to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit.  Each agency shall be requested to contribute at least Fifteen Thousand Pesos  (PhP15,000.00) and the NSCB is hereby designated to administer the NSM funds.

Funds needed for the NSM opening and closing ceremonies shall be provided by the host agencies.

7. Submission of Agency Activities

Participating agencies/organizations at the national level and in the National Capital Region (NCR) are requested to submit a detailed list of their proposed activities to the NSM Steering Committee following a prescribed format through the NSM Secretariat at NSCB, 2nd Floor, Midland Buendia Building, 403 Senator Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati City on or before August 28, 2009, in order to synchronize all efforts for the celebration.  Further inquiries may be coursed through the NSM Secretariat at telefax numbered 895-2436, telephone numbered 890-9404, or email address nsm@nscb.gov.ph.

Participating agencies/organizations in the Cordillera Administrative Region and in Regions 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are requested to submit their activities to their respective RSCCs through the NSCB RDs.  Agencies/organizations in other regions are requested to submit their activities to their respective RSCCs through the NEDA Regional Director (RSCC Chairperson) or the NSO Regional Director (RSCC Co-Chairperson), except in Region 4-B which are to be submitted to the RDC-Sectoral Concerns on Macroeconomic Development Administration (SCMDA).

All concerned are hereby urged to cooperate in ensuring the attainment of the objectives of the NSM.  National line agencies are enjoined to issue special orders/circulars encouraging the participation of their field offices in the subnational celebration of the NSM.  Whenever necessary, the NSCB Secretary General shall issue additional guidelines for the successful conduct of the event.

 

(SGD) RALPH G. RECTO
Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning
and Chairman, NSCB

Date: July 6, 2009