The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Visayas Regions converged in Cebu for a two-day training/workshop on the regional accounts on 12-13 October 2017 at Pacific Cebu Resort International in Lapu-Lapu City. This training was initiated by the Production and Expenditure Accounts Division of the Macroeconomic Accounts Service of PSA.  There were four (4) participants each from Western and Eastern Visayas and ten (10) from Central Visayas.  The PSA Central Office team was headed by the division chiefs Mr. Florande S. Polistico of Production Accounts Division (PAD) and Mr. Mark C. Pascasio of Expenditure Accounts Division (EAD).

The training focused on the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) and Gross Regional Domestic Expenditure (GRDE).  The topics include the concepts, scope and coverage, estimation process and methodology, overview of the accounting framework of the System of National Accounts among others.  The various components of the GRDP were briefly discussed by the sector specialists of PSA Central office.

The training aimed to capacitate the field personnel and at the same time served as an avenue to raise some issues and concern to further improve the quality of the products and services of the office.  Deputy National Statistician on Sectoral Statistics Romeo S. Recide emphasized in his message the importance of the regional accounts. He said that GRDP is one of the most in demand and requested data both from the national and local planners, policy makers and other stakeholders.