BAGUIO CITY – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) presented the highlights of the 2021 Pilot Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) results for the City of Baguio during the Data Turnover Ceremony on March 27, 2023, at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center.
The Cordillera Regional Statistics Committee (RSC-CAR) backed the initiative of Baguio City to collect local-level data in support of its development initiatives. In 2021, the Committee endorsed the inclusion of Baguio City as one of the non-pilot local government units (LGU) to be assisted by the PSA for the 2021 pilot CBMS project. The Data Turnover Ceremony shows the commitment of the RSC-CAR to provide direction and guidance to local statistical development activities.
National Statistician, Undersecretary Dennis Mapa expressed his gratitude to Baguio City for showing interest in utilizing local-level statistics to drive policy development. USec. Mapa remarked, “With these tools, particularly the data from the CBMS, the City Government of Baguio shall be able to further develop its locality into its promise of being an endearing haven for nurturing breathing space for body, mind, and spirit”.
In response, Mayor Benjamin Magalong recognized the importance of the data in the creation of programs and policies for the City. He emphasized that the data from the CBMS will be integral to the Smart City initiative of Baguio City. Planning and Development Coordinator, Arch. Donna Rillera-Tabangin laid down the plans of the city on integrating the CBMS data to advance Baguio’s sustainable and smart urban development goal.
Ms. Kristine Joy Briones, Assistant National Statistician of the PSA, presented the CBMS data collected from 94,483 participating households. Ms. Briones provided an overview of the data on basic services, food security, labor and employment, education and enrollment, and disaster preparedness of Baguio City derived from the CBMS.
The CBMS provides comprehensive and disaggregated data necessary for the conduct of poverty analysis and the prioritization of social protection beneficiaries. The experience of Baguio City will serve as a benchmark for the RSC, as the region envisions implementing more CBMS-related activities in the future.
The RSC-CAR, a support committee of the Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR), continues to assist local statistical development activities. NEDA Regional Director Susan A. Sumbeling serves as the Chairperson of the Committee. By Legriv Vilee I. Marquez
