The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Regional Statistical Services Office (RSSO) IX conducted the 2018 Quarterly Survey on Philippine Business and Industry (QSPBI), Monthly Integrated Survey on Selected Industries (MISSI) and Producers’ Price Survey (PPS) 2nd Level Training last February 12-14, 2018 at PSA IX Function, Zamboanga City. The trainer for this activity was Ms. Jenny Joy B. Montarde, Statistical Specialist I of Industry Statistics Division, PSA-Quezon City. Moreover, the first day of the activity was attended by the OIC of Statistical Operations and Coordination Division (SOCD) IX, SOCD IX staff and focal persons of each province including Zamboanga City but the remaining days the provincial focal persons no longer attended as the provinces have no sample for MISSI and PPS.

The training aimed to reorient and refresh the PSA personnel on the concepts, definitions and updates on the conduct of the surveys. Furthermore, the participants were tasked to do hands-on encoding of data captured from selected establishments. Engr. Belinda B. Garcia, the CRASD Chief of PSA RSSO IX in her inspirational message emphasized that these surveys have been existing and implemented for decades but still the data are very essential to the stakeholders for evidence-based decisions.

The Philippine Statistics Authority as part of its mandate pursuant to Republic Act No. 10625, is to authorized to conduct statistical sample surveys on all aspects of socio-economic life like industry among others. The data released by PSA is considered official and will be used as basis by the different stakeholders.