On 17 January 2025, Zamboanga Sibugay’s Provincial Statistics Committee (PSC) convened its First Quarter PSC meeting for CY 2025 held at the PSA Training Room, YOHO Center, Sanito, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. Committee members attended the session, which was presided by Engr. Venancio A. Ferrer III of the Provincial Planning and Development Office. The meeting focused on advancing the province’s statistical framework by discussing initiatives to ensure reliable data access for local governments, enhance evidence-based planning, and develop policies to improve local-level statistics.

The meeting started with preliminaries through an audio-visual presentation. Ms. Rovelich Prospero of PSA Zamboanga Sibugay made the roll call of participants ensuring that the meeting could progress efficiently and that any quorum requirements were met by providing the presiding officer with information regarding the number of members present or represented.  

During the meeting proper, PSC Chairperson, Engr. Ferrer discussed the meeting agenda. Provincial Director, Mario A. Baterna of the Department of Interior and Local Government made a motion to approve the provisional agenda which was hereby seconded by PLTCol. Garry T. Bahoy from the Zamboanga Sibugay Police Provincial Office. Also included in the agenda presented and discussed were the following:

•    Highlights of the previous meeting; and
•    PSC Accomplishments for the year 2024

Topics discussed and presented in the new business include:

•    Updates on the status of the 2024 POPCEN-CBMS;
•    Presentation and updates on Provincial Product Accounts (PPA);
•    Presentation on PSA-LGU Data Sharing for Business Registers Project (PLDS-BRP);
•    Presentation of Activities for the Civil Registration Month and information on the services offered in the new Civil Registry System outlet; and
•    Information dissemination campaign on the National Identification System.

Moreover, the first reading and referrals to the committee of proposed resolutions were discussed, specifically, the support of the members in the provision of data for the compilation of PPA and PLDS-BRP as well as the conduct of Civil Registration Month.

The conduct of quarterly Provincial Statistics Committee meetings is important as it serves as a vital platform for productive discussions and collaborative efforts to strengthen statistical activities in the province. The comprehensive agenda reflected the PSC's steadfast commitment to addressing various aspects of data collection, analysis, and dissemination, underscoring the critical role of relevant and reliable statistics for informed policy decisions and driving the province's development initiatives.

ATTY. RICHARD D. TABIGNE
Chief Statistical Specialist