The Philippine Statistics Authority – Regional Statistical Services Office VIII (PSA – RSSO 8) conducts the 2026 Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI) and 2026 Producer Price Survey (PPS) for Manufacturing. The MISSI and PPS are nationwide surveys that cover manufacturing establishments confined to the formal section of the economy.
The 2026 MISSI aims to provide planners and policymakers in both the government and private sectors with timely flash indicators on the performance of growth-oriented industries in the manufacturing sector. Data are used as inputs to monitor the business cycle of key manufacturing sectors of the economy.

The survey will gather key data on employment, compensation, value of production, sales from manufacturing activity, other income, inventories of finished products, work-in-progress and raw materials, and capacity utilization rate.

The 2026 PPS aims to collect producer price data of manufactured commodities for the generation of the Producer Price Index (PPI). The PPI measures yearly and monthly changes in the producer prices of key commodities in the manufacturing sector. The survey will gather key data on producer price data of commodities by specification or brand name.
Data collection for PPS is every 9th to 22nd day of each month after the reference month while for MISSI it is on 9th to 25th day after the reference month. In Eastern Visayas, sample establishments are taken from the provinces of Leyte, Samar and Northern Samar. The respondents can accomplish the MISSI and PPS for Manufacturing questionnaires through any of the following modes: electronic copy of the questionnaires to be emailed to the establishment’s official email address; printed questionnaires distributed/collected by SRs; MISSI/PPS Online Questionnaires to be accessed through URL: https://missipps.psa.gov.ph ; and phone interview.

The 2026 MISSI and 2026 PPS were reviewed and cleared for conduct by the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism prescribed by RA 10625 or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013 to ensure sound design for data collection; minimize the burden placed upon respondents; effect economy in statistical data collection; eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and, achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

In line with this, PSA enjoins all sample establishments to support the survey by answering truthfully to the questionnaires provided to them by PSA personnel. The Office reassures the public that all personnel involved are bound by the stipulations in Section 26 of RA 10625 and Section 8 of RA 10173.

All data obtained herein shall be held strictly confidential, and will not be used for taxation, investigation or law enforcement purposes. Survey results will be released in the form of summaries or statistical tables.(PR)

TACLOBAN CITY — Soldiers of the 802nd Maneuver Company (802nd MC) of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8 (RMFB 8) spearheaded a school repair activity at Canticum Elementary School in Barangay Canticum on February 16, 2026, aimed at providing students with safer and improved learning facilities.

Dubbed “Eskwelahan Niyo, Repair Ko,” the project, led by Maj. Leslie Lalic, focused on classroom maintenance and minor infrastructure improvements across the school grounds.
Barangay officials, led by village chairman Paquito Yamugan, and school personnel under Principal I Angela N. Agbon joined the initiative, highlighting a collaborative effort between the Philippine National Police, local government, and the Department of Education to support school development and a secure learning environment.

Lalic praised his team for their dedication, emphasizing their commitment to completing the repairs efficiently and safely, while fostering stronger community engagement with local schools.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Key infrastructure projects in Hilongos town, Leyte are moving forward following a joint monitoring activity conducted by the local government and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Leyte.

The inspection covered the installation of an LED Wall funded under the 2024 Support to the Barangay Development Program and the 2025 Local Government Support Fund–Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU) for a 2.6-kilometer farm-to-market road (FMR) in Barangay San Antonio.

Before the site visits, members of the Local Project Monitoring Committee (LPMC) convened for their first-quarter meeting to review priority projects and align monitoring responsibilities.

During the inspection, DILG engineers and municipal officials examined the LED Wall, which will be used to broadcast emergency hotlines, public advisories, disaster risk reduction updates, and tourism information. The team recommended securing electrical wiring, ensuring continuous operational access, and complying with documentation requirements to sustain the project’s functionality.

The group also assessed the ongoing construction of the farm-to-market road, which includes reinforced concrete pipes, box culverts, slope protection structures, and a line canal to strengthen drainage and durability.

Engineers advised the local government to maintain proper construction documentation, submit updated plans reflecting project adjustments, install a project marker, and ensure proper gradient profiling in sloped sections. They also underscored the importance of promptly uploading required documents to the Subaybayan Portal for transparency and monitoring.

Local officials said the LED Wall will improve access to vital public information, while the farm-to-market road is expected to boost mobility and facilitate the transport of agricultural goods in Barangay San Antonio.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY —Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has filed a measure seeking to grant a P3,000 monthly pension and insurance coverage to elderly, disabled and indigent farmers who are not enrolled in existing government retirement systems.

Under House Bill (HB) No. 7663, or the proposed “Comprehensive Farmers’ Pension and Social Protection Act,” Romualdez aims to provide regular financial support and social protection benefits to farmers considered among the most economically vulnerable sectors.
“The creation of a pension program for qualified elderly farmers is crucial for providing financial security, reducing poverty and ensuring a decent standard of living in their later years,” Romualdez said, noting that many farmers have limited access to stable income and continue working beyond retirement age due to financial necessity.

The measure is co-authored by Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre.

The bill defines an elderly farmer as a qualified farmer aged 60 years and above who is not receiving any pension from the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), or any private retirement plan.

A disabled farmer refers to one with a medically certified physical or mental impairment that permanently or temporarily prevents the performance of farm work. Meanwhile, an indigent farmer is one officially classified as such by the local government unit based on data collected under the Philippine Statistics Authority in accordance with Republic Act No. 11315, or the Community-Based Monitoring System Act.

The proposal covers individuals primarily and directly engaged in crop production, livestock raising, aquaculture, or other agriculture-related work, whether as landowners, tenants or farm workers.

The bill mandates the Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, to implement the pension and insurance program.

Qualified beneficiaries would receive a P3,000 monthly pension, along with basic life insurance coverage worth P50,000 and accident and disability assistance of up to P25,000 per claim. The DA would also allow direct claims by beneficiaries or household members through accredited banks, cooperatives or remittance centers.

Funding for the program would be sourced from the annual budgets of the DA and DSWD.
The measure further directs the DA and concerned agencies to establish a national database of elderly, indigent and disabled farmers to ensure proper targeting and monitoring of beneficiaries.

To safeguard the integrity of the program, the bill imposes penalties of one month to one year imprisonment, or fines ranging from P10,000 to P100,000, or both, for individuals found guilty of fraud. Public officials involved in irregularities may also face temporary disqualification from holding public office, in addition to administrative and criminal sanctions.

Romualdez said the proposed law seeks to recognize the vital role of farmers in ensuring food security while providing them with much-needed financial stability in times of old age, disability or hardship.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)