The 2009 Survey of Information and Communication Technology (SICT) has been granted clearance on April 26, 2010 by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS).  The survey, to be conducted jointly by the National Statistics Office (NSO) and the Information Technology and E-Commerce Council (ITECC) under the Office of the President, aims to generate information on the availability, distribution and access/utilization of ICT among industries and businesses in the country.  It is a rider to the Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI).

The 2009 SICT will generate important indicators to measure progress of ICT development in the country which include: (1) proportion of business and industries using computers; (2) proportion of employees using computers by industry; (3) proportion of employees using computers with internet access by industry; (4) proportion of business and industries with Web presence;  (5) proportion of business and industries with Intranet;  (6) proportion of business and industries with Local Area Network (LAN); (7) proportion of business and industries with Extranet; (8) proportion of business and industries receiving and placing orders over the Internet; (9) proportion of business and industries using Internet by type of activity; and (10) proportion of business and industries using Internet by type of access.  Major data items to be collected are: (1) general information about the establishment; (2) number of ICT workers; (3) capital expenditures on ICT resources; (4) ICT resources and its use; (4) e-commerce transactions through the Internet and other computer mediated networks; (5) use of Internet in the business processes; (6) use of cellular phones in business transactions; and (7) purchase and disposal of ICT equipment.

The information generated from the SICT will be used to provide data support to existing national programs and policies including the National Information Technology Plan 2000 (NITP 2000), which provides a strategic plan for harnessing government and private sector relations through the use of IT; and the IT Action Agenda for the 21st Century, which presents the national government strategy to enhance the country’s global competitiveness through IT.

Results of the 2008 SICT revealed that 79.5 percent of establishments in the country use Internet in their business transactions and 32.4 percent benefited from e-commerce.  An estimated 45.6 percent of establishments have websites and about 33.0 percent of the employees use Internet at work. 

The SICT questionnaires will be distributed to about 10,000 establishments in August and will be collected until October 2010.  Electronic copies of the questionnaires will also be disseminated to the focal persons in the sample establishments starting May.

The survey has a total budget of PhP 33.0 million or PhP 3,299.50 per responding establishment to cover expenses for travel, supplies, printing, communications, freight, training, and others.   Analysis and evaluation of survey results will be done from May 2011 to July 2011, while information dissemination of the survey results has been programmed by the NSO to commence in March 2012.

The SSRCS is a mechanism institutionalized by the NSCB through Memorandum Circular Nos. 4-88 and 04-95, which aims to: (1) ensure sound design for data collection; (2) minimize the burden placed upon respondents; (3) effect economy in statistical data collection; (4) achieve better coordination of government statistical activities; and (5) inform the private sector and the public in general that a government survey operation has passed clearance and enjoin their cooperation in the conduct of the survey.

ROMULO A. VIROLA
Secretary General

Contact Persons:

Ms. Millicent Gay B. Tejada/ Ms. Patricia Anne L. Rivera
Phone:  (632) 890-9404
Telefax: (632) 895-2436
E-mail :   mgb.tejada@nscb.gov.ph/ pal.rivera@nscb.gov.ph

Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS) Homepage