The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Macroeconomic Accounts Service (MAS) conducted Training on Data to Non-Benchmark Estimation of the Provincial Product Accounts (PPA). The said training/workshop was divided into two batches with the first batch, participated by the officials and personnel of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Eastern Visayas, scheduled on 05-07 July 2022 at Tacloban City and hosted by RSSO – Eastern Visayas. The Second Batch was participated by the officials and personnel of Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and SOCCSKSARGEN on 18-20 of July 2022 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, Lanang, Davao City and hosted by RSSO – Davao Region. The main objective of the activity is to capacitate the RSSOs and PSOs on the methodologies and processes in generating the non-benchmark estimates.

The first day of the training started with the acknowledgment of all PPA focals and staff from the five RSSOs, and twenty-four PSOs present, as well as staff from the SEAD, PAD, EIAD, and ONS of PSA Central Office. This was followed by the opening remarks of the Regional Director of RSSO Davao, RD Ruben D. Abaro Jr., and a message via zoom by Deputy National Statistician Divina Gracia L. Del Prado. DNS Del Prado emphasized the importance of working together to ensure the release of reliable results in accordance with PSA corporate values. Moreover, she expressed her appreciation on the dedication of the staff to participate in the undertaking and produce reliable statistics on the subnational level.

The 2nd day of the Training/Workshop focused on the hands-on exercises on non-benchmark estimation prepared by the facilitators from Central Office. The day started with brief highlights of day 1 given by Lee Ariane Nicole G. Tejada of PSO Guimaras. Ms. Precious Anne C. Cañete presented the guidelines of the hands-on exercises. The participants are then divided into nine (9) groups that are tasked to process at least two sectors with the aid of facilitators from Central Office.

For the final day of the workshop, each group presented the output of their respective industries. Each presenter began with discussing the overview of the industry/industries assigned to them, followed by the data sources needed in the estimation procedure, then the processing and analyzation of data, the application of the single extrapolation method, and lastly the issues observed during the workshop as well as recommendations. Ms. Elgie Gulane of SEAD mentioned some of the issues and challenges in non- benchmark estimation and discussed also how to address them. Some strategies mentioned were the eyeball test, cross validation with other industries, and the use of Supply and Use table for data gaps.

Ms. Precious Anne Cañete presented the Way Forward for PPA estimation and asked the RSSOs and PSOs to free up their schedules for the important dates. Selected focal persons gave their impressions on the activity. The workshop ended with the closing remarks of Ms. Vivian R. Ilarina, expressing her gratitude for the success of the activity.

SGD. AURELIA M. CANDA

Chief Statistical Specialist