CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-10 launched the 2022 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS), a collection of comprehensive set of data from the household in participating cities and municipalities, with information including demographic characteristics and various aspects of life and living conditions of households and families.

PSA-10 OIC Regional Director Dr. Janith C. Aves said the 2022 CBMS is the first PSA led CBMS rollout, an event that will change the course of evidence based decision making and local governance amidst the health and economic crisis, that the country faces these days.

“It is very important that our national and local policy makers use accurate, comprehensive and updated data as basis for the projects and programs that they propose,” she said.

Through the CBMS, households will be asked about their education background, sources of income, health conditions and disabilities, community participation, source of water, sanitation and hygiene practices, agricultural and fisheries activity, food consumption expenditure, financial inclusion, membership in social protection program, structure and material of their dwelling units, and disaster preparedness practices, among others.

The goal is to know the different realities in each community. These types of information help form a picture of each community, the kind of government interventions needed and the household and individuals most needing assistance, Aves added.

“Kada syudad ug munisipyo, mas klarong makita ang mga urgent needs og mahatag ang sakto nga serbisyo alang sa mga katawhan (Every city and municipality, the urgent needs can be seen more clearly and the right services can be provided for the people),” she said.

One of the most important indicators that can be generated from CBMS is the multidimensional poverty index (MPI), which measures the poverty beyond lack of income and resources to ensure sustainable livelihood.

It also displays a picture of hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and basic services, social discrimination and exclusion, as well as lack of participation and decision making.

During the event, Department of Health, National Economic Development Authority, Department of Information Communications Technology, and Department of the Interior and Local Government gave their messages of support to the CBMS.

“In behalf of DOH Northern Mindanao, I am expressing my whole strong support to our project, Community Based Monitoring System. Each of these processes is as important as the other if only to attain the improvement of the lives of our people. It is through this, that the real situation dictated from your (respondents) answer during the interviews, that we feel the real thing or the truth in the community and guided by that honesty, we will be able to help you, help ourselves attain what we long for,” said DOH-10 Regional Director Dr. Jose Llacuna Jr.

The CBMS enumeration commenced, August 8, 2022, with 35 participating local government units (LGUs) – 26 of these are PSA-funded while nine are LGU-funded. (JMOR/PIA-10)