VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — The 34th National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration in this province officially launched with a data dissemination activity that focused on health statistics.

It was conducted on Thursday, October 5 at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center (PFLDC) in Vigan City through the Provincial Statistics Committee (PSC) composed of various government agencies led by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Ilocos Sur.

With the theme “Accelerating Progress: Promoting Data and Statistics for Healthy Philippines,” this year’s NSM celebration emphasizes the importance of data and statistics in enhancing health outcomes through health-related statistics.

In the Ammuentayo radio program on Sunday, October 8, Jeanette Marzan, head of PSA-Ilocos Sur and vice-chairperson of the PSC said that the event was “loaded with information, especially on health.”

She said, “Aligned ito sa program ng Department of Health na Healthy Pilipinas. So, most of the statistics presented during the information drive were about health. Dito natin makikita ang kahalagahan ng estadistika sa kalusugan—para ma-align natin ng maayos ang iba’t ibang programa ng mga ahensya lalong-lalo na ng DOH.”

“This is to improve the socio-economic and health outcomes of our agencies dahil alam natin that health is everyone’s concern,” she added.

She also thanked the students of the Ilocos Sur Community College, the employees of the various government agencies and the speakers who joined the activities done on the first day of the celebration.

Moreover, the statistical exhibit wherein flyers and brochures containing information from various government agencies are available was also officially opened at the PFLDC.

Other activities to be held in the succeeding days are the Statistics Quiz, jingle sing and dance contest, and essay writing contest and oratorical contest, among others. (JCR/MJTAB/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)