PSA Conducts Construction Sector FGD in Cebu as Part of National Accounts Revision Efforts

April 2025, Cebu City — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), through its Macroeconomic Accounts Service (MAS), conducted its two-day Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Construction on 22–23 April 2025, at the Golden Prince Hotel and Suites in Cebu City. This activity is part of the preparatory phase for the Overall Revision and Rebasing (ORR) of the Philippine System of National Accounts (PSNA).

The FGD gathered stakeholders from both the government and private construction sectors to provide key insights aimed at enhancing the estimation of the Construction sector in national accounts. Among the attendees were representatives from the Office of the Building Official (OBO) of different local government units (LGUs) and private contractors and engineers.  The first session, held on 22 April in the afternoon, focused on local government participation. Officials from the OBO of Cebu City, Cordova, Naga City, and Mandaue City were present. The second session, held the following morning, engaged a representative from SOCOR Construction Corporation, representing the private construction sector. Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Wilma A. Perante, in her welcome remarks, highlighted the importance of developing accurate construction accounts to reflect the actual economic activity in the sector. Chief Statistical Specialist Leopoldo P. Alfanta, Jr. of PSA RSSO 7 then presented the objectives of the discussion. As a registered engineer, Alfanta expressed enthusiasm about learning directly from practitioners and emphasized the value of sector-specific insights in refining estimation parameters.

The discussion served as a platform for mutual exchange of information between PSA officials and participants, allowing them to explore real-world project implementation and reporting practices. These insights will be used to enhance existing methodologies and ensure that estimates more accurately reflect the ground realities of the Construction sector, especially in the Central Visayas region.

The activity concluded with the awarding of certificates of participation. On Day 1, Statistical Specialist II Angelica Samartino delivered closing remarks, thanking LGU participants for their valuable input. On Day 2, Statistical Analyst Harvey Ross Mendoza offered closing statements, highlighting the relevance of the FGD in addressing data limitations and improving estimation practices for the Construction sector.