BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Statistics Authority-Negros Occidental has conducted a capacity-building program aimed at improving how personnel generate, process and use Community-Based Monitoring System statistics for local planning and decision-making.
The training, announced by the provincial statistical office on Sept. 17, focused on statistical standards and classification systems under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System and the Philippine Standard Industrial Classification, or PSIC.
The initiative is intended to strengthen the consistency, comparability and quality of CBMS statistics, which can help local governments and other stakeholders make better-informed decisions on community development, policy formulation and resource planning.
PSA Negros Occidental said the program, titled “Advancing Community-Based Monitoring System Statistics through Statistical Standards and Classification: Capacity Building on SSRCS and PSIC,” sought to improve participants’ understanding and practical application of statistical standards.
Particular emphasis was placed on the PSIC, which provides a standardized way of classifying economic activities and helps ensure that statistical information is comparable across different data sets and reporting periods.
The training also covered the proper application of statistical standards and classification systems in the processing and utilization of CBMS data, with the agency emphasizing accuracy and reliability in the production of official statistics.
Statistical Analyst Maricris D. Siarez and Senior Statistical Specialist Rose Ann M. Hernandez of the PSA Central Office served as resource speakers during the activity.
Siarez and Hernandez provided technical guidance on the proper application of statistical standards and classification systems.
Resource speakers from the PSA Negros Occidental Provincial Statistical Office also shared practical knowledge and experience during the sessions.
They included Information Systems Analyst I Benjie Lee P. Serinas, Statistical Specialist II Rezilyn P. Infante and Statistical Analyst Resty John M. Bancruz.
The program combined lectures, discussions and practical exercises designed to deepen participants’ understanding of statistical standards, classifications and their relevance to CBMS data.
PSA Negros Occidental said the activities were intended to strengthen participants’ ability to apply appropriate classification systems and improve the accuracy and reliability of statistical information.
The training forms part of the agency’s continuing effort to develop the statistical capacity of its personnel and stakeholders.
By improving the use of common statistical standards and classifications, the provincial office aims to support the production of high-quality, timely and relevant CBMS statistics for evidence-based planning and policy decisions at the local level.
The effort also highlights the role of continuing technical training in turning community-level data into meaningful statistical information that can support development priorities across Negros Occidental.
For local governments, more consistent and reliable CBMS information can strengthen the evidence used to identify community needs, design programs and evaluate development interventions.
The PSA Negros Occidental release, dated Sept. 17, carries Reference No. PR2026-09-1845-167 and was approved for release by Chief Statistical Specialist John F. Campomanes.
The provincial statistical office said continued capacity building remains important to ensuring that CBMS data are properly classified, interpreted and transformed into information that can support the development needs of communities throughout Negros Occidental. (news/ photo by PSA PR via tdg)