ILOILO CITY (PIA) - - The 33rd National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration in Western Visayas (WV) will formally open on October 11, 2022 with a simple rite and a tree planting activity. 

Former Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) head and now University of the Philippine System Planning and Finance Vice President Dr. Lisa Grace Bersales was invited to keynote the opening ceremony.

WV Regional Statistics Committee chairperson and National Economic and Development Authority VI (NEDA VI) OIC Regional Director Arceo Casing will declare the opening of the celebration regionwide.

PSA VI Statistical Analyst and RSC 6 Secretariat Roel Bagaforo said the opening ceremony on Oct. 11 will be a blended event to be done in person and online. He said each member agency of the RSC 6 was given two slots to attend the ceremony to be held  at 1:00 p.m. at RDC Hall, NEDA VI here. The event will also be live streamed on the facebook pages of PSA VI and 33rd National Statistics Month-Western Visayas. 

After the opening ceremony, a tree planting activity will be held at the Floodway in Brgy. Buhang in Jaro, Iloilo. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has prepared some 50 to 80 bamboo seedlings to be planted during the activity.

Students by the Commission on Higher Education; and  Regional Statistics Quiz for High School Students by NEDA VI. 

Entries for the Statistical Infomercial Contest, Statistical Infographics Contest, Photography contest, E - Poster Making Contest and Statistiktok will be posted on the 33rd National Statistics Month-Western Visayas FB page to further enhance the public’s appreciation of the value of statistics. 

PSA  is spearheading this year’s celebration with the theme “Boosting the Country’s Recovery with Informed Decisions, Better Policies” pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647 signed on September 20, 1990. (JBG/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)