PR-201009-RO1-05
PRESS RELEASE
September 6, 2010

Ilocos Region Prepares for 21st National Statistics Month

The Ilocos Region is now preparing for the celebration of the 21st National Statistics Month (NSM) this October 2010.  The 21st NSM shall have this overall theme:  “Towards a Philippine Statistical System Responsive to Emerging National and Global Challenges.” The Ilocos Region, thru the Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC) I, the over-all coordinator of the NSM celebration in the region, has also adopted a sub-theme:  “Geographic Information System (GIS) as a Tool for Physical Planning on Disaster Risk Management.” 

The various regional, provincial/city and municipal line agencies, local government units and academic institutions are now preparing their NSM calendar of activities. The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) Regional Division 1, RSCC’s secretariat, will consolidate the NSM calendars for dissemination in October. Activities to be conducted by the various offices in the region include hanging of streamers, statistical exhibits, statistical fora, trainings, and other advocacy activities thru radio interviews and dissemination of reports and publications.   

Meanwhile, the RSCC approved during its 2nd regular meeting last August 24, 2010 the common regional activities of the region.  The celebration in the region will officially start on October 1, 2010 through the Regional NSM Opening Ceremony at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Conference Hall in San Fernando City, La Union.  Regional contests to be participated in by provincial winners will also be conducted such as the Regional Oratorical Contest, Regional Poster Slogan Contest, Regional Jingle Making Contest and Regional Statistics Quiz.  Secondary and tertiary level students are qualified to join the contests.  The RSCC will also conduct the Search for the Best NSM Province.  The winners of the contests will be awarded with Certificates of Recognition and cash prizes during the Regional Closing Ceremony on October 28, 2010 at the BSP Conference Hall in San Fernando City, La Union.  

The NSM is celebrated annually pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647, Declaring the Month of October of Every Year as National Statistics Month, issued on September 20, 1990 by then President Corazon C. Aquino. The event aims to promote, enhance and instill nationwide awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics to the various sectors of society,  and to elicit the cooperation and support of the public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics in the country.