The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Regional Statistical Services Office (RSSO) IX, headed by the Regional Director Dr. Mewchun WS. Pamaran officially unfolded the 28^th National Statistics Month (NSM) in Zamboanga City with an Opening Ceremony held at Grand Astoria Hotel, Zamboanga City last September 27, 2017.  The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) IX was the host agency for the Opening Ceremony.

The National Statistics Month is an annual national celebration which aims to promote, enhance and instill awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of society and to elicit the cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics in the country. This year’s NSM is the 28^th of the annual celebration with the theme: “FACTS AND FIGURES FOR THE FUTURE: Statistics for Evidence-Based Decisions Towards AmBisyon Natin 2040”.

The ceremony started at 9:30 AM and was participated by a total of 150 participants coming from different government agencies, state university and colleges and private firms. This year’s Opening Ceremony was highlighted by the presentation of the AmBisyon 2040 by Ms. Susan C. Valerio, Division Chief of NEDA IX. It was then followed by a presentation of the demographic characteristics of the 2015 Census of Population in Zamboanga Peninsula and Zamboanga City by Mr. Mark Anthony B. Belderol, Senior Statistical Specialist of PSA IX. The program concluded with a challenge to each participant to cooperate and support the government’s goal to reach every Filipino’s dream by the year 2040.