Question & AnswerQ&A (Commonwealth Act No. 170)
The primary purpose of Commonwealth Act No. 170 is to establish the legal framework for conducting a population census with classified social and economic information in the Philippines under the supervision and control of the President of the Philippines.
The census is supervised and controlled by the President of the Philippines.
The enumeration begins on a day fixed by a proclamation of the President of the Philippines, known as Census Day, and proceeds on consecutive days from daylight to darkness until completed.
All persons who spent the night preceding Census Day within the jurisdiction of the Philippines, including those who have subsequently died or departed, persons on ships within Philippine jurisdiction, and engaged in coastwise trade, except certain armed forces of the United States which are separately recorded and excluded from the official Philippine population count, are to be enumerated.
The direct execution is entrusted to a Census Commissioner appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, assisted by an Assistant Census Commissioner.
Enumerators must collect facts and statistics by personally visiting every dwelling, family, or individual, obtain required information, prepare returns, and forward them to their supervisor within thirty days unless an extension is granted.
Refusal to supply prescribed information or answer proper questions can result in a fine not exceeding one hundred pesos, or imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both, at the court's discretion.
No. Information obtained during the census shall not be used in any court or public office as evidence against the entity or for taxation assessments, except as authorized for Census officers in performance of duties.
Conviction can lead to fines of not more than six hundred pesos, imprisonment for not more than six months, or both, depending on the offense, including falsifying information, obstructing officers, or causing census work to be inefficient.
The Census Advisory Boards assist and advise the officer in charge of census operations in the provinces and use their influence to secure cooperation from local officials and the public.
Yes, every officer or employee designated by the President to perform census duties is required to accept and perform such duties, with compensation continuing as their usual salary but without additional payment except authorized per diems and travel expenses.
The President may do all acts necessary to carry out the census, including subdividing territory for enumeration, authorizing publications, delegating authority to the Census Commissioner, and requiring additional information beyond population counts.
They must take and subscribe to an oath or affirmation to perform their duties accurately and to the best of their ability.
Census data must not be divulged to unauthorized persons nor published in identifiable forms. Census officers are prohibited from disclosing information and must destroy forms after they have served their administrative purpose.
Penalties include fines not exceeding two thousand pesos, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, depending on the court's discretion.