The Philippine Statistics Authority is enjoining all agencies of the government, Local Government Units, academic institutions, state universities and colleges, and the private sector at the national and subnational levels to actively participate and support the 32^nd National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration this October 2021. 

Pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation No. 647 signed by President Corazon C. Aquino on 29 September 1990, declaring the month of October of every year as the National Statistics Month. The NSM is annually observed nationwide. It aims to: (a) promote, enhance and instill awareness and appreciation on the importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of the society; and (b) elicit the cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics in the country. 

With the challenges and negative impacts of the pandemic in mind, the 32^nd National Statistics Month adopts the theme – “NSM@32: Revving up for Economic and Social Recovery Through Evidence-Based Policies.” This was also inspired by the “Recharge PH” Program of the government which rallies all sectors of the economy and all the Filipino people to adopt a “whole of society approach” to unite and contribute towards economic recovery.

The theme accentuates the importance of statistics as basis for policy decisions to address the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19. It emphasizes the use of relevant statistics as solid evidence that will guide and support the nation’s efforts in navigating the pandemic towards socioeconomic recovery.

In these uncertain times, the relevance and adequacy of information and statistics is crucial particularly in the close monitoring of COVID-19 active cases, recoveries, and deaths, and in identifying the group of people qualified for government financial aid. Thus, decisions must be anchored on good official statistics.

As the situation eases, relevant and timely statistics play an important role in better crafting policies to steer socioeconomic recovery to include creating employment and other economic opportunities.

With this, the PSA 7 is encouraging the Local Government Units, National Government Agencies and the public to participate in the celebration of the 32^nd NSM nationwide. Several lined-up activities to the month-long celebration that includes press/media forum, conduct of statistical quiz bee, statistical trivia quiz, podcast, essay writing, dance challenge, infographics making contest, statistical webinars, information dissemination, statistical capacity building, statistical exhibits, among others.

For more details and announcements, kindly visit the Regional National Statistics Month webpage at http://rsso07.psa.gov.ph/nsm or our facebook NSM page at https://www.facebook.com/NSMCentralVisayas. 

 

ARIEL E. FLORENDO
Regional Director