The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) envisions to update existing digitized maps to come up with accurate and reliable maps for use in data collection during census and survey operations, information dissemination activities, spatial analysis, and in the development of the sampling frame for the Master Sample for household-based surveys and other sampling frames. This map updating activity is a component of the continuous rolling scheme for updating of maps of the PSA, which is expected to be finished prior to the conduct of the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (CPH). One of the important thrusts of the map updating activity is to geo-tag the building structures found in the selected Primary Sampling Units (PSUs).

For the purpose of the updating activity of digitized maps of the PSA, geo-tagging is the process of creating vector data by marking building structures in the selected areas as points in the digitized maps. Along with the creation of points for building structures, the association or attribution of geographical information to these points, which includes addresses of buildings, building type, and pictures, among others, is also done simultaneously.

The main objective of conducting the geo-tagging activity is to identify and mark building structures as points in the digitized maps and to attribute these buildings with pertinent geographical information for use in various statistical undertaking of the PSA. Specifically the geo-tagging aims to: come up with accurate, up-to-date, and dynamic digitized enumeration (EA) base maps; aid in the creation of the building registry in the Philippines; be used as guide in the post-census evaluation activities; construct base maps to be utilized in the 2019 Enumeration Area (EA) delineation activity; be used as reference and guide in the conduct of  several Household/Establishment-based surveys and censuses; aid in the development of the Master Sample and other Sampling Frames; be used in the preparation of various geospatial distribution and data visualization for information dissemination; and provide inputs for validating sampling frames.

Prior to the conduct of the actual field enumeration for the 2019 Geo-tagging of Building Structures, PSA conducted a regional briefing through teleconferencing in all regional offices nationwide last 4-5 March 2019. Participants of the regional briefing were the Regional Director, Chief of the Statistical Operations and Coordination Division, Provincial Statistics Officers (PSOs) of all provinces wherein geo-tagging operation will take place, Regional Focal Person (RFP), Provincial Focal Persons (PFPs), Assistant Provincial Focal Persons (APFPs), and Hired Map Data Screeners (MDSs).

Discussed during the Regional Briefing were the different Office Memos related to the conduct of the 2019 geo-tagging of building structures, new ways of downloading and geo-referencing of google images for deployment to all Hired Map Data Collectors (MDCs) nationwide. The 2019 Geo-tagging of Building Structures will start on 18 March 2019.