A Study on the Impact of EO 36 on the Philippine Statistical System
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Abstract:
Executive Order No. 36, otherwise known as “Providing for the Reorganization of the Administrative Regions in Mindanao and for Other Purposes”, is the second act to reorganize the composition of provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). This act authorized the inclusion of Marawi City and Basilan (except Isabela) in the roster of areas covered by the ARMM. The act also paved the way for the creation of Zamboanga Sibugay. Undeniably, the reorganization affected not only the distribution of authority in the region, but the generation of statistics as well. The goal of this study was to assess the imminent impact of the said law on the activities of the four statistical agencies including the National Statistics Office (NSO), National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) and Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES). In addition, the study intended to gauge the effect of the reorganization on the publication of surveys and census reports. Citing the position of the four statistical agencies, the study concluded that the reorganization had minimal negative impact on the existing statistical activities and coordination both on the local and national level. The transfer of Marawi City to ARMM also resulted in better logistics in statistical coordination due to its proximity to other areas in the region. However, major adjustments were necessary in the Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) as different cities/provinces were reorganized under the law. Additionally, regional domain-based surveys such as the Occupational Wages Survey (OWS) and Employment, Hours and Earnings Survey (EHES) needed to be redesigned to comply with the reorganization.
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