The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) renewed the clearances of the Palay and Corn Production Survey (PCPS) and Palay and Corn Stocks Survey (PCSS) on June 3, 2010 under its Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS).   Both surveys are designated statistical activities of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) under Executive Order No. 352 issued on July 1, 1996.  The PCPS is a quarterly survey conducted to generate estimates and forecasts on palay/corn areas, production and yield, which are significant inputs to policies and programs on rice and corn.  On the other hand, the PCSS is a monthly survey that aims to generate estimates on the current stocks of rice and corn in farm and non-farm households.  This is in addition to the data gathered by the National Food Authority (NFA) on commercial and NFA depository rice and corn stocks. Information on the household, commercial and NFA stocks serve as inputs in deciding whether to import rice or corn and how much. 

The major data items being collected from the PCPS include area planted/harvested, production by ecosystem/irrigation facility/type of seed and crop, crop utilization/disposition, production forecast (on standing crop), and planting intentions in the next quarter.  The PCSS, however, takes account of stock levels of palay, rice, corngrain and corngrits in households as of the first day of each month.

Results of the latest PCPS revealed that palay production decreased by 11.4 percent in the first quarter of 2010 from 3.94 million metric tons in January to March 2009 to 3.49 million metric tons the same period this year.  Corn production also posted a decline by 16.8 percent, from 1.92 million metric tons from January to March 2009 to 1.60 million metric tons in the first quarter of 2010.  Based on the farmers’ planting intentions, it is estimated that for the second quarter of 2010, the palay and corn production would decrease by 9.4 percent and 36.8 percent, respectively, compared with the levels in second quarter of 2009.  According to BAS, the drop in the actual and expected levels of production is linked to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon.

The PCSS results showed that household rice stocks reached 1.11 million metric tons as of May 1, 2010 or a 3.4 percent increase from 1.07 million metric tons on April 1, 2010.  Household stocks of corn, on the other hand, amounted to 44,600 metric tons as of May 1, 2010.  It decreased by 43.5 percent from last month’s 77,500 metric tons.  During the same period, commercial stocks of rice reached 459,400 metric tons while NFA stocks amounted to 1.76 million metric tons.  Commercial and NFA stocks of rice grew by 8.8 percent and 37.1 percent, respectively, compared to the stock levels as of April 1, 2010.  Corn stocks held in commercial warehouses weighed a total of 109,200 metric tons on May 1, 2010 while those in NFA depositories reached 41,200 metric tons.  Relative to the previous month’s inventory, commercial corn stocks as of May 1, 2010 increased by 22.8 percent whereas those held by the NFA declined by 44.0 percent.  As of May 1, 2010, total rice and corn stocks amounted to 3.32 million metric tons and 195,000 metric tons, respectively.

The PCPS questionnaires are distributed to 12,500 palay farming households and 8,500 corn-producing households during the first ten days of April, July, October and December while PCSS questionnaires are distributed to 9,677 farming and non-farming households during the first five days of each month.  A total budget of Php 6.1 million or Php 291.27 per household is allotted for the PCPS to cover travelling expenses, supplies, printing expenses, communication, freight, training and others while Php 110,250 or Php 11.39 per household is allocated for the PCSS, which basically covers only the printing of the questionnaires as the BAS field staff also do telephone interviews in collecting the data aside from personal visits.   Results from the PCPS and PCSS are released 45 days after the reference quarter and 10 days after the reference month, respectively.

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:

Gay B. Tejada / Patricia Anne L. Rivera
Tel. No.: 8909404/8952436
E-mail: mgb.tejada@nscb.gov.ph / pal.rivera@nscb.gov.ph