About the PSS Review

DESCRIPTION          

    The Philippine Statistical System (PSS) is a government-wide scheme for providing statistical information and services to the public. Structurally, the PSS is a highly decentralized system consisting of the following bodies:

  • a policymaking body, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB);
  • data produces – the National Statistics Office (NSO), the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and the statistical units of the other government agencies and instrumentalities, as well as local government units;
  • and statistical education, training, and research institutions – the Statistical Research and Training Center (SRTC), and the academe.

 

    The current setup of the PSS is largely based on the government-wide reorganization conducted in 1987 under the Freedom Constitution, through EO No. 121, otherwise known as the Reorganization Act of the Philippine Statistical System. This was an off shoot of the review conducted in 1986   and after more than twenty years, the PSS is due for another extensive review in order to realize the vision of having a System that embodies several key characteristics: INDEPENDENCE, OBJECTIVITY, INTEGRITY, RELEVANCE, and RESPONSIVENESS. Since the official data issued by the PSS have a direct impact on the policies and programs that are formulated to address the social and development goals of the country, it is very crucial to ensure that these key characteristics are sustained.

    The current effort is also in line with EO No. 366 of 4 October 2004, directing a review of the operations and organizations of the Executive Branch to improve the productivity and delivery of government services.

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LEGAL BASIS

    A Special Committee to Review the PSS was created, through NSCB Resolution No. 4 of 2007, dated 14 February 2007. The creation of the Committee was in consonance with the recommendations of the Task Force on the Preparation of a Rationalization Plan for the PSS – the Task Force had cited that the strategic review of the PSS would be best undertaken by an independent body composed of respected statisticians and eminent personalities knowledgeable and familiar with the situation prevailing in the system.

    The Committee has been tasked to review and evaluate the following:

  • the current setup of the PSS in planning, coordinating, and managing statistical activities;
  • the functions and mandates of the major statistical agencies, vis-à-vis their outputs, products, and services.
  • the adequacy of legal frameworks governing the operations of the system;
  • the integrity and completeness of the national statistical programs;
  • the mechanisms that facilitate access to data and other materials generated by the system;
  • the methods of archiving generated data; and
  • international best practices on statistical systems that may be adopted in the country.

FUNDING SOURCE

    Funding for the Review has been provided by the BSP, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).                     

TIMETABLE

    Convened on 11 July 2007, the review process was supposed to have been completed by end of the year.  However, due to the need to gather more information on outstanding issues and consult both producers and users of statistics, the Committee has requested for and was granted an extension of the review effort until April 2008.