Press Release

On its 20^th year, the National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration will have for its theme "Enhancing Security Sector Statistics for Good Governance, Peace and Sustainable Development".

NSCB Memorandum Circular No. 01-09 signed by the former Socio-Economic Planning Secretary and Chairman of the NSCB Executive Board Ralph G. Recto designated the Department of National Defense (DND) as host of the opening ceremonies and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the closing ceremonies. At the subnational, DND Memorandum signed by USEC Antonio G. Santos, authorized the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) as the focal agency to spearhead the celebration, supported by the other DND bureaus/affiliate agencies like the Philippine Army (PA) and Philippine Veterans Administration Office (PVAO). The Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC) is the overall Coordinator of the month-long regional celebration.

The Agency NSM Coordinators line up inter-agency and in-house agency activities in the 20th NSM Regional Calendar of Activities formulated. The opening ceremonies is slated on October 2, 2009 in the morning, which will kick off with a "hataw", a motorcade and opening program. The Closing & Awarding ceremonies will be on October 30, 2009 to be held at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, Iloilo City.

Contests will be held for the various sectors of society: the Statistics Quiz for Secondary and Statistical Analysis for College students; Statistical Exhibits for the agencies; and Search for Best Paper for thesis students, Best Statistical Data Board for Agencies/LGUs/Academe; and Best 20^th NSM Agency. Two big important events also are the 9^th WV Statistical Congress for professionals & graduating students and the Training on Statistics for Local Development Planning for LGU statisticians.

The NSM is celebrated every year in pursuance of Presidential Proclamation No. 647 "Declaring the Month of October of Every Year as National Statistics Month" issued by former President Cory Aquino for the improvement and enhancement of the quality and standards of statistics in the country.