The PSA Siquijor and Negros Oriental conducted a joint refresher training on the Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) and the Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC) 30 March 2022. Participants of the province of Siquijor attended the one-day training through face-to-face at Dapdap Sunsit Grill, Pangi, Siquijor with all the six (6) LGUs being represented while PSA Negros Oriental has hybrid training setup with some participants attending face-to-face at Southview Hotel, Dumaguete City and the rest joining online through Zoom. The conduct of the refresher training aims to strengthen the stakeholder’s knowledge about PPA and the PSIC and to present the LGU Establishment Data (LED). A workshop in filling-out the LED form was conducted to supplement the compilation of PPA. Furthermore, it served as venue for cooperation and support with the Local Government Units (LGUs), regional and provincial agencies and the rest of the stakeholders.

    Engr. Ariel Fortuito, Chief Statistical Specialist of PSA Negros Oriental, welcomed all the participants and expressed his gratitude to them for gracing the invitation. He thanked all the representatives of LGUs and other agencies who were able to attend physically and virtually. Engr. Leopoldo Alfanta, Jr., Chief Statistical Specialist of the Statistical Operations and Coordination Division (SOCD) Region VII, gave a message in behalf of Engr. Ariel Florendo, Regional Director of PSA Region VII, stressing the importance of PPA in providing disaggregated economic data down to the provincial level to be used in local policy and program making.

     Louella Ragos, Supervising Statistical Specialist of Statistical Classifications Division (SCD), provided a thorough discussion on PSIC Overview and Gem Dandoy, Statistical Analyst of PSA Siquijor, elucidated PPA Overview and the PPA Road Map for the next five years. Jill Bernadette C. Abing, Statistical Specialist II of PSA Siquijor, and Maria Felida Generoso, Supervising Statistical Specialist of Negros Oriental, presented comprehensive discussions of the 2019 updates to the 2009 PSIC per PSIC section.

     During the afternoon session, Statistical Specialist I Mamer Abong of the Regional Statistical Services Office (RSSO) VII, discussed the Introduction of the PPA Template and Manual. He highlighted in his discussions the instructions in filling up LED Form 1 and LED Form 2. He also facilitated the workshop proper wherein each participant was given links to access LED Form 1 and LED Form 2 for hands-on exercises using their sample list of registered establishments and then each provinces presented the workshop output right after the hands-on exercises. Engr. Joselito C. Maghanoy, Supervising Statistical Specialist of PSA Siquijor, expressed his gratitude to all the attendees, both physically and virtually during his closing remarks and he encouraged everyone for the continued cooperation and support for a more shared information as we overcome challenges and move towards sustainable development.

     The said training is one of the series of activities in preparation for the release of the 2021 Gross Domestic Product of each province and HUCs of Central Visayas in December 2022.