The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – Guimaras Provincial Statistical Office has successfully conducted its Provincial and Municipal Level Training on Household Profile Data Collection and Geotagging, paving the way for the 2024 Census of Population and Community-Based Monitoring System (POPCEN-CBMS). The training, held from June 17-22, 2024, at Alobijod Cove, Nueva Valencia, focused on equipping personnel with essential skills and knowledge for the forthcoming nationwide rollout.
“The training of all personnel involved in the POPCEN-CBMS implementation is one of the integral aspects of the data collection and geotagging of all households and institutional living quarters in the province,” said Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare.
This extensive training program included Census Area Supervisors (CAS) and other PSA Guimaras office-based personnel. The attendees, who previously participated in the Task Force Training at the PSA Central Office, served as trainers and resource persons, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of the concepts and guidelines necessary for effective enumeration and supervision.
Simultaneous municipal level training sessions were conducted across all five municipalities of Guimaras, involving 128 POPCEN-CBMS Enumerators and 23 Team Supervisors. Officer-in-Charge – Regional Director (OIC-RD) Nelida C. Amolar visited training cohorts in Jordan, Nueva Valencia, and Sibunag, emphasizing the participants’ crucial role in the successful implementation of the 2024 POPCEN and CBMS.
“The quality of the data that will be collected will highly depend on how well the field personnel understand the concepts and execute the interview techniques and procedures,” Amolar noted, highlighting the significance of accurate data for formulating effective plans and policies.
Losare expressed gratitude to the training participants, stressing their commitment to ensuring the completeness, accuracy, and reliability of the collected data, which is vital for informing government social protection programs and other initiatives. “It is essential for the field personnel to pay attention to the smallest detail and have a sense of responsibility to keep all the information confidential that will be obtained from individuals and households during the interview,” she emphasized.
The training covered various critical aspects, including data privacy, confidentiality, and the execution of tablet-based geotagging procedures. Participants were also trained on how to complete different POPCEN-CBMS forms and materials, addressing sections such as demographic characteristics, migration, education, economic characteristics, health, food security, and more.
The 2024 POPCEN-CBMS aims to update the population count at the local level, identify beneficiaries for government social protection programs, and support the implementation of Republic Act No. 11964, the “Automatic Income Classification of Local Government Units Act.”
