TACLOBAN CITY-On 08 to 31 July 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority – Regional Statistical Services Office VIII (PSA – RSSO 8) will conduct the July 2025 Labor Force Survey (LFS) together with the 2025 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) Visit 1. The 2025 FIES Visit 1 will be a rider survey to the July 2025 LFS. The 2025 FIES will collect data covering the first semester of 2025. The monthly LFS aims to generate high frequency data on the Philippine labor market to better monitor and assess the country’s employment situation and economic conditions. The results serve as vital inputs for planning, policy formulation, and implementation of programs that promote gainful employment and support livelihood opportunities for Filipinos. Meanwhile, the 2025 FIES aims to accomplish the following objectives: to gather data on family income, sources of income, family expenditure and related information affecting family income and expenditure levels and patterns in the Philippines; to determine the income distribution, levels of living and spending patterns, and the degree of inequality among families; to provide inputs in the estimation of the country’s poverty threshold and incidence; and to provide benchmark information to update the weights used in the estimation of Consumer Price Index (CPI). PSA enjoins all sample households to support the survey by providing truthful information to authorized PSA Statistical Researchers who will visit them to conduct personal interview. The office adheres to the principles of transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality pursuant to RA 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and RA 10625 or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013. Section 26 of RA 10625 stipulates that “individual data furnished by a respondent to statistical inquiries, surveys, and censuses of the PSA shall be considered privileged communication and as such shall be inadmissible as evidence in any proceeding”. All survey results will be released in the form of summaries or statistical tables. The office assures the public that required public health and safety measures will be strictly observed in all phases of field operations. All PSA personnel and hired statistical researchers who will be deployed are healthy and will wear PSA ID for proper identification. For inquiries and further information, please contact our office with telephone number (053) 839-1884 and email address rsso08socd@psa.gov.ph. (PR)

In Samar

TACLOBAN CITY-As part of its continuing push for peace and reintegration, the provincial government of Samar formally turned over 17 housing units to former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) during the 39th founding anniversary celebration of the 801st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army on July 2, 2025.

The beneficiaries are now active peace advocates, having surrendered to government authorities in recent years through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), a national initiative aimed at supporting the transition of former communist insurgents to civilian life.

In her message during the ceremony, Governor Sharee Ann Tan thanked the former rebels for choosing the path of peace and reintegration.

“To our former rebels, thank you for choosing a more peaceful life. You are the living witnesses to how your lives have been better since your return,” she said.

Governor Tan also announced the provincial government’s plan to expand its “Saad nga Balay” housing initiative to accommodate more returnees and sustain the gains of the government’s peace and development programs. She encouraged those still in the mountains to lay down their arms and rejoin society.

Of the 17 units turned over, seven are located in San Jose de Buan under the “Saad nga Balay Para ha Peacebuilders” project. These new units bring the total number of completed houses in the area to 17, with each 150-square-meter unit constructed at a cost of P250,000.

Meanwhile, the remaining 10 newly built housing units in Calbiga were also handed over during the event. Each of these homes was built at a slightly higher cost of P280,000 per unit, possibly due to terrain or logistical factors.

The housing program is part of the province’s broader strategy to promote peace and development in former conflict-affected communities, especially in remote towns like San Jose de Buan and Calbiga — both previously known as strongholds of the NPA.

The turnover was held at the headquarters of the 801st Brigade in Hinabangan town which has played a key role in facilitating the surrender and transition of former insurgents in Samar.

Since 2021, the Samar provincial government, in partnership with the military and national government agencies, has been aggressively implementing localized peace initiatives through infrastructure support, livelihood programs, and community reintegration services for former rebels and their families.

(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA)