The statistics community of Eastern Visayas joins the entire country in celebrating the
35th National Statistics Month (NSM) with the theme, “Advancing Data and Statistics Through Digital Transformation: A Road to an Empowered Nation”.

To mark the 35th NSM, PSA – RSSO 8 has calendared in October 2024 several
inter-agency events that will highlight the efforts in modernizing the statistical system through the adoption of digital tools and platforms to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and accessibility of statistics. This year’s 35th NSM Opening Ceremony, co-hosted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on 04 October at Robinson’s North, Abucay, Tacloban City, will be guested by National Economic and Development Authority VIII (NEDA 8) Regional Director and Regional Statistics Committee VIII (RSC 8) Chairperson Meylene C. Rosales, together with DICT OIC-Regional Director Melvyn Carlo T. Barroa. PSA-wide, all Provincial Statistical Offices have organized activities that include advocacy/IEC, training/workshops, symposium/webinar, contests/quiz, exhibits, and the like. At the regional level, activities to watch out for are the following:

Kapihan sa PIA Eastern Visayas (02 October); 35th NSM Opening Ceremony (04 October 2024); PSA Says (04 October) ; Regional Statistics Committee (RSC) Outreach Program (11 October); Stat Zumbayaw with a Twist (12 October); 2023 Full PSA Official Poverty Statistics Regional Data Dissemination (14 October); International Poverty Summit (16 to 17 October); Forest Bathing with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) (18 October); Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute – Philippine Statistics Authority (PSRTI-PSA) Capacity Building Training for LGUs (22 to 24 October); FB Stats Go! (every Wednesday and Friday of October); Search for Best LGU Advocates for Statistics (25 October); Search for Best Youth Organization for Statistics (25 October); 1st Visayas Cluster Data Festival (28-29 October); 35th NSM Closing Ceremony (25 October)
The NSM is observed nationwide pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647 signed by then President Corazon C. Aquino on 20 September 1990, “Declaring the Month of October of Every Year as the National Statistics Month”. This was reinforced by PSA Board Resolution No. 11, series of 2021, “Enjoining and Institutionalizing Support to the Annual Celebration of the National Statistics Month”. These directives are refreshed with the issuances of Memorandum Circulars by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) calling for the conduct of NSM-related activities. All participating organizations, universities/colleges, and units of the government are also encouraged to vie for the NSM Awards in 2025 and requested to display the 35th NSM streamers/tarpaulin in the building façade throughout the month of October 2024.

Once again, the NSM aims to 1) promote, enhance, and instill nationwide awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of the society; and 2) elicit the cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standard of statistics in the country. Along this line, PSA – RSSO 8 enjoins all departments, bureaus, offices, and instrumentalities of the national government, government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, local government units, the private sector, and the public to continuously support and actively participate in the NSM celebration.

For more details, contest mechanics, updates and other announcements, please follow the PSA – RSSO 8 Official FB Page (@PSAEVOfficial). You may also contact our office with telephone numbers (053) 839-1884/888-0069 and email addresses rsso08socd@psa.gov.ph/ rsso08crasd@psagov.ph.
Happy 35th NSM, see you! (PR)

Manila-In a significant step towards strengthening healthcare in the Philippines, the development agencies of Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States signed on September 27 a partnership committing P1.6 billion ($29 million) over five years to improve health outcomes and advance Universal Health Care in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). This funding is in addition to existing forms of assistance which the three development agencies have provided and will continue to extend to BARMM.

Under the Memorandum of Cooperation, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will work closely with BARMM’s Ministry of Health (BARMM-MOH), the Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH), local communities, and other key stakeholders to improve health information systems; increase public health financing; promote good public health practices; expand quality healthcare services, and improve access to essential medicines, facilities, and equipment.

JICA, KOICA, and USAID have committed to share their expertise and resources to advance cross-cutting health system reforms and initiatives in the region effectively and innovatively.

“Together with our partners, we aim to promote a more resilient and efficient regional healthcare system accessible to the community and the vulnerable groups within the region. Our efforts towards a more inclusive and responsive health system reflects Japan’s long-standing commitment to human security and peace-making efforts within the BARMM,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said at the signing ceremony held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.

“Korea’s experience rising from the ashes of war to prosperity drives our commitment to supporting peace and development, reflected in our 30 percent increase in official development assistance and a 48 percent boost in KOICA’s budget for 2024. Through this unprecedented partnership, KOICA will play a crucial role in delivering vital maternal and child health services, strengthening health systems, and improving emergency readiness,” KOICA Vice President KIM Dong Ho said.

“Through this partnership, we envision a future where mothers and their children are in the care of highly capable professionals; where TB patients receive treatment; where young adults receive culturally sensitive reproductive health services; and where families are protected from infectious diseases and pandemic threats,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said.

JICA, KOICA, and USAID will each have a unique focus and expand their priority health programs in BARMM.

JICA will advance maternal and newborn health and nutrition, strengthen community health services, promote PhilHealth enrollment facility-based deliveries, and take into account contribution to gender mainstreaming.

KOICA will enhance sustainable health financing through PhilHealth, provide culturally sensitive maternal care, upgrade facilities and equipment, and boost emergency preparedness with the DOH-certified Field Epidemiology Training Program.

USAID will strengthen health systems, enhance the delivery of family planning, adolescent reproductive health, and tuberculosis programs, and improve preparedness and response to emerging health threats.

“This collaboration reinforces the shared journey of DOH, BARMM-MOH, USAID, JICA, and KOICA towards our vision of Universal Health Care and the sustainable development goals for health, including quality service delivery, healthcare financing, health governance, and health regulations,” DOH Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa added.

“The Memorandum of Cooperation is a call to action and a commitment to harness the collective power of our organizations to create a healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous Bangsamoro with an end in mind to build a stronger Philippines,” said BARMM Health Minister Kadil Sinolinding, Jr.

“By working together, we can amplify our collective action, enhance our efficiency, and ensure that every peso, dollar, won, and yen invested shall translate to tangible improvements in people’s health and quality of life.”(PR)