NSCB - Press Release - NSCB Holds Forum On Statistical Capacity Building

NSCB Holds Forum On Statistical Capacity Building
(PR-200903-NS1-3, Posted 17 March 2009)

To enhance partnership among the development partners, donor community and the government on statistical capacity building and to serve as a venue for advocating the outputs of the Philippine Statistical System (PSS) and its resource requirements, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) is holding a Forum on Statistical Capacity Building on March 24, 2009 at the RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Specifically, the Forum aims to: (a) increase public awareness of the priority activities of the major statistical agencies and selected line agencies in Calendar Year 2010-2012; (b) enjoin existing and potential development partners to support statistical activities essential to national development progress; and (c) forge strategic partnerships for statistical capacity building between/among major statistical agencies and other line agencies involved in statistical activities, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Congress, and potential development partners from local private corporations and international organizations.

This activity will be the first PSS Forum of this kind which attempts to gather the heads or senior level officials from the major statistical and line agencies, including the DBM and Congress as agencies responsible for prioritizing government funding, together with private corporations and international organizations as stakeholders. It is expected that this gathering will open avenues to forge strategic partnerships with existing and potential development partners for statistical capacity building. It is envisioned that this activity will be held annually.

Around ninety (90) participants are expected to attend the said Forum to include officials from the major statistical agencies in the PSS such as the NSCB, National Statistics Office (NSO), Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and Statistical Research and Training Center (SRTC). Other participants will come from government line agencies such as the DBM, Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Tourism (DOT). Representatives from the Committees on Appropriations and Finance of the Senate and the House of Representatives are likewise invited to the said forum. Completing the list of invited participants are leading private corporations in the country and international development partners such as the Foreign Embassies of Australia, France, Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, and Royal Danish Consulate, Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), German Technical Cooperation (GTC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Agencia Espanola Cooperacion (AEC), Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), PARIS 21, and the United Nations and its affiliated international organizations such as the UNCT, UNESCAP, UNESCO, UNICEF, ILO, FAO, and WHO, among others.

During the Forum, NSCB Secretary General Romulo A. Virola will present the overview and challenges of the PSS and NSCB OIC Director Candido J.. Astrologo, Jr will outline the objectives and mechanics of the activity. High ranking officials of major statistical agencies composed of Administrator Carmelita N. Ericta (NSO), Director Romeo S. Recide (BAS), OIC Director Teresita V. Peralta (BLES), Executive Director Gervacio G. Selda (SRTC) and Director Lina V. Castro (NSCB) will present the priority statistical programs/activities of their respective agencies. Other presenters include Assistant Secretary Jesus Lorenzo R. Mateo of DepEd and Director Eriberto C. Argete of the DENR. The participants are expected to comment, react and give their views and opinions after the presentations. The closing remarks will be delivered by Dr. Virola. The moderator of the said Forum will be Ms. Nieves L. Osorio, former Undersecretary of the Department of Finance and currently the President of the Philippine Statistical Association (PSA).

ROMULO A. VIROLA
Secretary General

Contact Person:

Ruben V. Litan
Tel. No. (632) 890-8456
Email: rv.litan@nscb.gov.ph