SAN FERNANDO CITY, June 29 (PIA) – Thirty-five local government units (LGUs) in Ilocos Region will join the simultaneous nationwide launching of the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority In August.
The participating LGUs are composed of 18 municipalities under the 5th to 6th income class of which CBMS rollout will be funded by the PSA while the other 17 are 1st to 4th income class towns of which implementation will be LGU-funded.
Most number of participating LGUs are from the province of Ilocos Sur.
PSA-funded areas of implementation are the municipalities of Adams, Dumalneg, Carasi, and Burgos in Ilocos Norte; Bagulin, Burgos, and Pugo in La Union; Gregorio Del Pillar, Lidlidda, Nagbukel, San Esteban, San Ildefonso, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Sigay, and Sugpon in Ilocos Sur; and Sto. Tomas in Pangasinan.
On the other hand, areas to be funded by their respective local government are the towns of Bacarra, Piddig, and Solsona in Ilocos Norte; Aringay, Bacnotan, Bangar, and Rosario in La Union; Aguilar, Bautista, Bolinao, Mangatarem, and Pozorrubio in Pangasinan; and Galimuyod, Quirino, Santiago, Sta. Maria, Sta. Lucia, and Suyo in Ilocos Sur.
According to lawyer Sheila De Guzman, regional director of PSA, the participation of LGUs in the upcoming rollout is optional although many have signified their interest to join but were not able to make it to the cut-off date given the strict screening process and approval of the PSA Central Office (CO).
“Madaming gustong sumamang LGUs pero hindi sila nakahabol sa cut-off noong June 15 at talagang naging mahigpit ‘yong screening ng CO kung kakayaning i-finance ng LGU ‘yong magiging rollout,” De Guzman said.
She added, “Hopefully, for the coming years, lahat na ng LGUs ay makasama na.”
Prior to the rollout, the hiring and recruitment of enumerators are being undertaken to be followed by the operational training from the provincial down to the city/municipal level.
Further, in support to the CBMS rollout, the Regional Statistics Committee (RSC) recently approved during its second quarter meeting a resolution that approves the reconstitution of the technical working group (TWG) on the implementation of the 2022 CBMS which will later be endorsed to the Regional Development Council 1.
The TWG will be chaired by PSA and co-chaired by the Department of the Interior and Local Government along with the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Philippine Information Agency, a private sector representative, and Associations of Private School, Colleges and Universities as members.
This team will be in-charge in the monitoring of the implementation in the region and provide technical support to logistics and other requirements.
Also, the TWG will have to provide recommendations in aid of resolving issues and concerns experienced during the rollout and submit to the RSC for appropriate actions. (JCR/AMB/CGRC, PIA Region 1)
