CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-10 started its 2021 Survey on Innovation Activities of Establishments (SIA), January 5–March 1, 2023, employing 15 statistical researchers to cover 487 establishments throughout Region 10 to capture new information on the use of digital platforms by Philippine businesses.

With the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, governments have become even more cognizant of innovation as a major driver of economic output, productivity, and competitiveness. Innovation is adding value by using new or significantly better products, production methods, marketing strategies, or organizational methods.

The Philippine government knows that it has a role to play in making and maintaining policies that help the country's innovation ecosystem.

So, the country passed two laws: Republic Act No. 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act (PIA), which sets the country's goals for innovation and is meant to make the country's policy environment more friendly to science, technology, and innovation; and Republic Act No. 11337 or the Innovative Startup Act, which aims to strengthen, promote, and develop a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Philippine Institute for Development Studies are working together on the 2021 Survey on Innovation Activities of Establishments (SIA). This is the third time the survey has been done since 2010.

Information on innovation should help firms understand their innovative behavior and activities.

This round collects new data on the use of digital platforms by Philippine businesses, recognizing that markets of all kinds are becoming more digital and digitized as the internet becomes more widely used.

PSA-10 says that all businesses in the area must support the activity by taking part and giving honest and complete information during the first three months of 2023. All data collected will be kept strictly confidential in compliance with Section 26 of Republic Act 10625 and Republic Act 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012).

The Office also assures the public of the observance of minimum health protocols during the entire SIA operation. (PSA-10/PIA-10)