29 April 2024 – ZAMBOANGA CITY. The Philippine Statistics Authority-Regional Statistical Services Office (PSA-RSSO) IX spearheaded the Convening of the Regional POPCEN-CBMS Coordinating Board. PSA IX Regional Director and the Co-Chairperson of the Regional Census Coordinating Board (RCCB), Mewchun WS. Pamaran, presided over the meeting as Ms. Maria Felicidad R. Guerrero, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office IX, OIC-Regional Director and the Chairperson of the RCCB, is attending an equally important meeting.

The members of the Regional POPCEN-CBMS Coordinating Board are coming from different national agencies and religious sector. Attending the convening onsite were Police Col. Kimberly Molitas, City Director, PNP-ZCPO, Engineer I Abdul Hazim Natangcop, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office IX, Mr. Jaime Valencia, Department of Health (DOH) Regional Office IX, OIC-ELUPDD Lawrence N. Empeynado, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Region IX, Mr. Jayson Salvador, Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region IX, Ms. Myra Espinosa, Philippine Information Agency IX, and PSA IX officials and staff. NEDA IX RD Guerrero and DILG IX representative attended virtually.

RD Pamaran emphasized the significance of the 2024 POPCEN-CBMS as this is designed to take an inventory of the total population in the Philippines and entails a census of households and generation of data at the local level which serves as a basis in targeting beneficiaries particularly “Listahanan” of the DSWD for government programs geared towards poverty alleviation and economic development.

Ms. Ma. Flerida E. Tan, PSA Officer-In-Charge of the Statistical Operations and Coordination Division Chief, discussed the overview of the census, its legal basis, rationale, scope and coverage of the enumeration while Ms. Sonia D. Supnet, Statistical Specialist II and the CBMS focal person, on the roles and responsibilities of the members of the RCCB and the possible assistance of the members to the PSA for the smooth operation of the undertaking.

The convening was concluded with the photo opportunity that signifies the partnership and commitment of different national line agencies to the 2024 POPCEN-CBMS project.

MEWCHUN WS. PAMARAN
Regional Director

MFET/SDS/AEM