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Press Release: The 22nd National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration in SOCCSKSARGEN Region will kick off on October 3, 2011 with a motorcade around Koronadal City’s main thoroughfares. The regional celebration is spearheaded by the Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC) XII led by its Chairperson, NEDA XII Regional Director Teresita Socorro C. Ramos and Co-Chairperson, NSO XII Regional Director Maqtahar L. Manulon. This year marks its 22nd year of observance with the theme “Quality Social Protection Statistics for Focused Targeting: Improving Outcomes, Changing Lives”. The theme brings to fore the crucial role that statistics play in crafting various programs and projects aimed at improving the lives of the Filipino people. After the motorcade, an Opening Ceremony will be held at the ProTech Center to formally launch the month-long NSM celebration in the region. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XII will host the Opening Ceremony. DSWD XII Regional Director Bai Zorahayda T. Taha, Koronadal City Mayor Hon. Peter B. Miguel and South Cotabato Governor Hon. Arthur Y. Pingoy, Jr. were invited to grace the event. Other guests invited include regional directors/heads of regional line agencies, local planning offices, academe and private/business organizations. After the Opening Ceremony, the DSWD XII will formally launch its National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) database. The NHTS-PR is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are nationwide. The system aims to create an objective and transparent database of poor households which will serve as guide to other government agencies and stakeholders in identifying beneficiaries of their social protection programs. NSCB XII will also deliver a presentation on “Tracking the MDGs: Region XII Beating the Odds Between Now and 2015”. The presentation intends to update the various stakeholders on the present status of the region in terms of attaining the various MDG goals and targets to accelerate all efforts geared towards the attainment of the MDGs by 2015. Aside from hanging of NSM streamers, the celebration will be highlighted by the conduct of symposia, workshops, conferences, seminars, trainings, exhibits, statistics quizzes, poster and slogan contests, and IEC activities by various government line agencies, local government units, academe and the private sector. To solicit full support of all stakeholders in the region, the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII, during its 35th Regular Meeting on 13 September 2011, passed RDC XII Resolution No. 133 Series of 2011 enjoining the active support and cooperation of all regional line agencies and local government units in the month-long NSM celebration. On September 20, 1990, then President Corazon C. Aquino signed Presidential Proclamation No. 647 declaring the month of October of every year as the National Statistics Month. Since then, the event has progressively become a showcase of unity and cooperation within the Philippine Statistical System (PSS) in promoting its products and services and provides a forum for tackling statistical concerns and developments affecting the statistical system. The annual celebration aims to promote, enhance and instill nationwide awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics, and at the same time, solicit the support of the general public in enhancing the quality of statistics in the country.
(SGD)
HERLITA G. CARAAN |