EASTERN VISAYAS — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has launched a comprehensive deployment of 3,668 personnel across 4,390 villages in Eastern Visayas to facilitate the 2024 Census of Population (PopCen) and the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS).
According to Philippines News Agency, the team comprises 2,961 enumerators, 537 team supervisors, and 170 area supervisors, who will conduct interviews with families that last between 45 minutes to one hour. This extensive data collection initiative aims to update the national population inventory and refine the list of beneficiaries for various social protection programs.
The integration of the PopCen with the CBMS has been strategically advanced from its planned 2025 schedule to optimize government resources and minimize respondent fatigue. "To achieve the success of this nationwide statistical activity, we encourage active participation from all sectors of society," Perante noted during an interview on Monday. The data gathering, which commenced this Monday, is set to continue through September 2024, with the results expected to be published in the first quarter of 2025.
This dual survey will not only update the current population count but also enhance the targeting of households for poverty alleviation programs and projects. The comprehensive data collection covers a variety of metrics, including demographic characteristics, migration, education, economic activities, health, food security, and more. This information is crucial for designing and implementing targeted welfare programs and ensuring efficient public service delivery.
The last recorded population for the region was 4,547,150 as of May 1, 2020, representing about 4.17 percent of the total Philippine population, as per the 2020 Census of Population and Housing. The ongoing survey is pivotal in providing updated and accurate data to support government planning and policy-making.