Philippine Statistical System Reorganization

Policy, purpose, and organizational redesign

Section 2 declares it is the policy of the State to rationalize and promote efficiency and effectiveness in delivering statistical services through necessary and proper changes in the PSS’s organizational and functional structures.
Section 2 requires an integrated statistical system characterized by independence, objectivity and integrity.
Section 2 mandates the system to enhance responsiveness to the requirements of equitable national development.
Section 2 directs the development of a statistical system providing timely, accurate and useful data for government and the public.
Section 2 supports decentralization through the establishment of statistical infrastructure serving local development planning needs.

Philippine Statistical System (PSS) coverage

Section 4 provides that the PSS consists of statistical organizations at all administrative levels, the personnel therein, and the national statistical program.
Section 4 includes within the PSS a policy-making body, a coordinating body with primary data collection capability, a statistical research and training institute, and executive departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities of national and local governments.
Section 4 includes within the PSS all government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and their subsidiaries engaged in statistical activities as primary functions or as part of administrative or regulatory functions.
Section 4 requires the PSS to remain decentralized with strong coordination, achieved through postings of trained personnel and closer linkage between statistical programming and budgeting.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) creation

Section 5 creates the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) attached to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for purposes of policy coordination.
Section 5 establishes the PSA’s structure as the PSA Board and offices on sectoral statistics, censuses and technical coordination, civil registration and central support, and field statistical services.
Section 5 designates the PSA Board as the highest policy-making body on statistical matters.
Section 5 provides that data produced by the PSA are the official and controlling statistics of the government.
Section 5 makes the PSA primarily responsible for national censuses and surveys, sectoral statistics, consolidation of selected administrative recording systems, and compilation of the national accounts.
Section 5 provides that the Departmentof Economic Statistics of the BSP continues to take charge of banking and financial statistics, including Balance of Payments (BOP) and flow of funds.

PSA functions and development program

Section 6 makes the PSA the central authority on primary data collection for the Philippine government.
Section 6 requires the PSA to prepare and conduct periodic censuses on population, housing, agriculture, fisheries, business, industry and other sectors of the economy.
Section 6 requires the PSA to collect, compile, analyze, abstract, and publish statistics on the country’s economic, social, demographic, political affairs, and general condition of the people.
Section 6 requires the PSA to conduct statistical sample surveys on socioeconomic life, covering agriculture, industry, trade, finance, prices and marketing information, income and expenditure, education, health, culture, social situations, and the government and political sector for use by government and the public.
Section 6 grants the PSA civil registration functions in the country as provided for in Act No. 3753 (Civil Registry Law).
Section 6 requires the PSA to collaborate with departments of the national government, including GOCCs and subsidiaries, for collection, compilation, maintenance, and publication of statistical information, including special statistical data derived from those organizations.
Section 6 requires the PSA to promote integrated social and economic statistics and coordinate plans for integration, including national accounts.
Section 6 requires the PSA to develop frameworks and standards for collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of data.
Section 6 requires coordination with government departments and LGUs on adoption of statistical standards (techniques, methodologies, concepts, definitions, and classifications) and avoidance of duplication.
Section 6 requires continuing methodological, analytical, and development activities in coordination with the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI).
Section 6 requires recommendations of executive and legislative measures to enhance statistical activities and programs.
Section 6 requires preparation of the Philippine Statistical Development Program (PSDP), in consultation with the PSA Board.
Section 6 requires implementation of policies on statistical matters and coordination as directed by the PSA Board.
Section 6 authorizes the PSA to perform other functions assigned by the PSA Board and necessary to carry out the Act’s purposes.
Section 24 defines the PSDP as consisting of all statistical activities undertaken by the PSS in response to development planning and policy formulation requirements.

PSA Board composition, meetings, and authority

Section 7 provides that the PSA Board is chaired by the NEDA Director-General.
Section 7 provides the Board vice chair is the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) or the duly designated Undersecretary.
Section 7 provides Board members include the National Statistician, one representative each from other national government departments, a BSP representative, the Executive Director of the PSRTI, a representative of the Philippine Statistical Association, a GOCC representative, and representatives from ULAP and the private sector.
Section 7 provides that non-ex officio members are appointed by the Chairperson for a term of three (3) years, with reappointment, from a list of nominees submitted by other Board members.
Section 7 provides that in the absence or temporary incapacity of the NEDA Director-General, the DBM Secretary or designated Undersecretary acts as Chairperson.
Section 7 provides the PSA Board constitutes five (5) sections, each with a maximum of seven (7) members; the sections cover: (a) Agriculture, Industry, Trade and Services, Environment and Natural Resources, Prices and National Accounts; (b) Labor and Employment, Population, Women and Gender, Health and Welfare, Education, Science and Technology and other Socioeconomic Sectors; (c) Census and Survey Design; (d) Theoretical Statistics and Statistical Modeling; (e) Statistical Information System and Information Technology.
Section 7 authorizes the Board to create sections as deemed necessary and appropriate.

PSA Board voting and compliance mandate

Section 8 requires the PSA Board to hold its first organizational meeting within forty-five (45) days from the Act’s effectivity.
Section 8 requires regular quarterly meetings, plus special meetings called by the Chairperson or upon request of any fifteen (15) members.
Section 8 provides non-ex officio Board members receive per diem rates determined by DBM under existing rules and regulations.
Section 8 limits total per diem collected in a month to no more than the equivalent per diem for four (4) meetings.
Section 9 requires the PSA Board to decide matters by majority vote of all its members.
Section 9 provides that a majority of the Board members constitutes a quorum for day-to-day affairs.
Section 9 mandates all government agencies to comply with directives requested by the PSA Board, either motu proprio or through the PSA.
Section 9 provides that failure, without justifiable reason, to comply results in filing of administrative and criminal cases against erring personnel and the immediate superior, without prejudice to other laws or regulations.
Section 9 provides that in a criminal case, the penalties in the second paragraph of Section 27 apply.

Inter-agency statistical committees

Section 10 requires the PSA Board to create Inter-Agency Committees on Statistics (IACs) to coordinate and resolve agency and sectoral statistical concerns.
Section 10 provides that IACs serve as a forum for issues raised by producers, users, and other stakeholders of sectoral and agency-specific statistics.
Section 10 lists IACs for: Agriculture; Trade and Industry Statistics; Infrastructure; Financial Statistics; Social Statistics; Gender Statistics; Environment and Natural Resources; Information and Communications Technology; Science and Technology; Governance; Migration; Fiscal Matters; and PSS Resources.
Section 10 authorizes the PSA Board to create additional IACs or abolish them as appropriate, and to define functions and terms of reference.
Section 10 authorizes increasing or decreasing IAC membership by PSA Board authorization based on work exigencies.
Section 10 allows IACs to create subcommittees or working groups drawing membership from technical staff of represented government agencies and other private entities.
Section 10 requires IACs to submit work programs and progress reports, including findings and recommendations on technical issues referred to them.

National Statistician appointment and duties

Section 11 provides the National Statistician must have experience in management of data collection and at least a Master’s degree in Statistics.
Section 11 requires the National Statistician to be appointed by the President from nominees submitted by a Special Committee.
Section 11 defines the Special Committee as representatives from the Philippine Statistical Association, UP School of Statistics (UPSS), UPLB-INSTAT, the Department of Economic Statistics of the BSP, and NEDA.
Section 11 sets the National Statistician term at five (5) years, renewable through reappointment.
Section 11 requires the National Statistician to direct and supervise PSA general administration.
Section 11 requires the National Statistician to prescribe rules and regulations, instructions, schedules, and forms of business for PSA statistical collection, compilation, dissemination, and census conduct.
Section 11 requires overall direction of civil registry law implementation and technical supervision over local civil registrars as Civil Registrar General.
Section 11 requires direction and management of policies, standards, rules, and regulations formulated by the PSA Board.
Section 11 authorizes the National Statistician to issue appointments of PSA personnel below the rank of Director.
Section 11 requires the National Statistician to represent PSA as signatory to contracts, researches, and other awards.
Section 11 requires representation of the Philippines in regional and international statistical conferences and meetings as the country’s highest authority with respect to statistical matters.
Section 11 requires an annual report to the President through the NEDA Director-General, and a separate annual report to Congress during presentation of the President’s budget.
Section 11 authorizes other functions assigned by the PSA Board.

PSA organizational structure and offices

Section 12 provides PSA offices include: Sectoral Statistics Office, Censuses and Technical Coordination Office, Civil Registration and Central Support Office, and Field Statistical Services (regional offices and provincial statistical offices).
Section 12 provides PSA is headed by the National Statistician assisted by three (3) Deputy National Statisticians for: Sectoral Statistics; Censuses and Technical Coordination; and Civil Registration and Central Support.
Section 12 establishes support units directly under the National Statistician: Legal Services, Statistical Methodology, International Cooperation, and Management and Corporate Planning.
Section 12 requires the Deputy National Statistician for Sectoral Statistics to supervise three (3) Assistant National Statisticians overseeing Macro-economic Accounts Statistics, Economic Sector Statistics, and Social Sector Statistics.
Section 12 requires the Deputy National Statistician for Censuses and Technical Coordination to supervise Assistant National Statisticians overseeing National Censuses, Standards, and Information Technology (IT) and Dissemination.
Section 12 requires the Deputy National Statistician for Civil Registration and Central Support to supervise Assistant National Statisticians overseeing Civil Registration and Central Support.
Section 12 specifies each office’s assigned supervisory and functional focus through its named Assistant National Statistician oversight areas.

Functions of PSA offices and field services

Section 13 requires the Sectoral Statistics Office to provide technical staff support across enumerated sectoral and policy areas, including macroeconomic account generation and economic and social account development and maintenance, and to plan and conduct surveys according to an approved statistical calendar.
Section 13 authorizes the Sectoral Statistics Office to perform other tasks assigned by the National Statistician.
Section 14 requires the Censuses and Technical Coordination Office to prepare, conduct, process, and disseminate census results according to an approved statistical calendar.
Section 14 requires it to maintain and develop statistical standards and classification systems and provide technical assistance to government offices to meet statistical requirements for policy-making, planning, and programming.
Section 14 requires coordination of Regional Statistical Services and provision of IT systems/programming support, cartographic services, and PSA generated data archives and communication/information services.
Section 14 requires it to provide the data center for statistics and civil registration.
Section 15 requires the Civil Registration and Central Support Office to provide technical and support services for administrative services, financial management services, and human resources, and to support the efficient functioning of the civil registration system.
Section 16 requires Regional Statistical Services Offices and Provincial Statistical Offices in each administrative region and province, respectively, to provide technical staff support, technical assistance to implementing agencies and LGUs in their areas, and other tasks assigned by the National Statistician.

PSRTI creation, governance, and training powers

Section 17 creates the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI) attached to NEDA for policy coordination.
Section 17 abolishes the Statistical Research and Training Center (SRTC) and transfers all SRTC assets and liabilities, appropriations, records, and personnel to the PSRTI.
Section 18 requires the PSRTI to develop an integrated research and training program on theories, concepts, and methodologies for promoting the statistical system.
Section 18 requires PSRTI research on statistical concepts, definitions, and methods, and promotes collaborative research among academics, data producers, and users.
Section 18 requires PSRTI to conduct nondegree training to upgrade statistics personnel and expand the statistics human resource base supporting the PSS.
Section 18 requires PSRTI to provide scholarships, financial and other forms of assistance to build statistical manpower and enhance training and statistical research and development.
Section 18 requires PSRTI to serve as a repository for PSA-generated statistical researches and studies and to keep backup/duplicate files of PSS data archives and databases.
Section 18 authorizes the PSRTI to invest its funds with due consideration to existing guidelines on investing government funds.
Section 19 provides PSRTI is headed by an Executive Director nominated by the PSA Board and appointed by the President, with at least a Master’s degree in Statistics.
Section 19 requires PSRTI to have a governing board that formulates policies for management and operations.
Section 19 provides the PSA Board Chairperson is Chairperson of the PSRTI Governing Board; members include the Dean of the UP School of Statistics, the Executive Director of the Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC), a NEDA representative, and the PSRTI Executive Director as ex officio members.
Section 19 authorizes the PSA Board Chairperson to appoint two (2) private sector representatives from a list of nominees submitted by the Board.
Section 19 requires the PSRTI Governing Board to meet at least every semester and requires the PSRTI to provide reasonable allowances.
Section 20 authorizes PSRTI to engage professionals as fellows or associates for training and research.
Section 20 requires fellows to have research or training experience and preferably a doctorate in Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Computer Sciences or related disciplines, while associates must have at least a Master’s degree in those fields.
Section 20 provides that engaged professionals receive appointments and paid fees determined by PSRTI and approved by the PSA Board.
Section 21 transfers the existing SRTC Endowment Fund to PSRTI as the initial PSRTI endowment fund and authorizes acceptance of contributions, donations, bequests, grants, and loans from domestic and/or foreign sources, government appropriations, and other incomes accruing from PSRTI operations.
Section 21 requires augmentation of the endowment fund through inclusion of the needed amount in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Section 22 provides the initial PSRTI operating fund is constituted by the amount appropriated for the SRTC operating fund under the current General Appropriations Act.
Section 22 provides that thereafter, government contribution for PSRTI research and training programs is determined based on the annual financial plan approved by the PSRTI Governing Board and submitted to the DBM.
Section 23 authorizes PSA teams of statistical personnel to be posted in other government offices to carry out coordinated work programs; posted personnel are supervised by the Deputy National Statistician for Sectoral Statistics, submit fortnightly statistical reports to the Office of the National Statistician, and host office heads submit periodic performance evaluation reports.

Obligation to respond and confidentiality rules

Section 25 requires the National Statistician to determine whether a statistical inquiry or survey is with or without an obligation to provide information.
Section 25 provides that when an obligation to provide information is stipulated, all respondents whether natural or legal persons are liable to reply to the statistical inquiry or survey.
Section 25 requires respondents to give truthful and complete answers to statistical inquiries or surveys of the PSA and other statistical offices of the PSS.
Section 25 provides that compliance exists only upon receipt of duly completed statistical inquiry or survey forms.
Section 25 provides the government provides franking privileges, charges and postings to the survey offices unless disallowed by law.
Section 25 authorizes the PSA to gather data from other government agencies for statistical purposes.
Section 26 provides that individual data furnished by respondents to PSA statistical inquiries, surveys, and censuses are privileged communication and inadmissible as evidence in any proceeding.
Section 26 authorizes the PSA to release aggregated information in summaries or statistical tables where no reference to an individual, corporation, association, partnership, institution, or business enterprise appears.
Section 26 requires the National Statistician and all PSA staff to take a solemn oath regarding confidentiality of information.
Section 26 provides confidentiality does not apply to:
- (a) Information in the form of a list or index of individual business firms, establishments, or organizations containing (1) name, address, and telephone numbers; (2) business and products engaged in; and (3) specific ranges of number of employees.
- (b) Microdata from PSA-prepared statistical inquiries or survey form/questionnaire/schedule for research, with care to ensure identities of a particular person, business, or organization are not disclosed in whatever form.
- (c) Access to census data after one hundred (100) years for historical, genealogical, scientific, or other research purposes.

Penalties for violations and noncompliance

Section 27 provides respondents of primary data collection activities such as censuses and sample surveys are obliged to give truthful and complete answers, and data gathering, consolidation, and analysis must be done in the most truthful and credible manner.
Section 27 provides that any violation of the Act results in one (1) year imprisonment and a fine of PHP 100,000.00.
Section 27 provides that for corporations failing to give truthful and complete answers, the penalty is imposed on the responsible officer, director, manager, and/or agent of the corporation.
Section 27 provides that erring corporations or other juridical entities are also imposed a fine ranging from PHP 100,000.00 to PHP 500,000.00, depending on the category of the enterprise or business concerned whether small, medium or large.
Section 27 provides that any person, including parties within the PSA Board and PSA, who breaches confidentiality of information—by carelessness, improper behavior, malicious intent, or using confidential information for profit—is liable to fines set by the PSA Board not less than PHP 5,000.00 nor more than PHP 10,000.00 and/or imprisonment of three (3) months but not to exceed one (1) year, subject to the degree of breach of information.
Section 27 provides that failure to comply with the survey clearance provision is penalized by a fine of PHP 50,000.00 to PHP 100,000.00, depending on the gravity and seriousness of noncompliance.

Reorganization actions and transitory rules

Section 28 abolishes the NSO, BAS of the Department of Agriculture, BLES of the Department of Labor and Employment, and the NSCB, and transfers their appropriations, records, properties, and personnel to the PSA.
Section 29 provides PSA reorganization must be carried out so absorbed personnel continue to perform duties and responsibilities in a holdover capacity to avoid undue delay in production of statistics from ongoing censuses, surveys, and processing of administrative records.

Early retirement and separation benefits options

Section 30 provides personnel of merged agencies not absorbed into the new staffing pattern due to redundancy, or failure to comply with competence and proficiency standards, or those who decline offers under the new staffing pattern due to diminution in rank, benefits, and work conditions, or who decline offers without diminution but are qualified, may opt for beneficial options.
Section 30(a) allows the option of retirement gratuity under Republic Act No. 1616, as amended, payable by the last employer plus refund of GSIS retirement premiums, without the incentive herein provided.
Section 30(b) allows the option of retirement benefit under Republic Act No. 660 or applicable retirement, separation, or unemployment benefit under Republic Act No. 8291 if qualified, plus incentives computed at:
- (b.1.) 1/2 month of present basic salary for every year of government service and a fraction thereof for those who have rendered twenty (20) years of service and below;
- (b.2.) 3/4 month of present basic salary for every year of government service and a fraction thereof, computed starting from the 1st year, for those who have rendered twenty-one (21) to less than thirty-one (31) years of service;
- (b.3.) 1 month of present basic salary for every year of government service and a fraction thereof, computed starting from the 1st year, for those who have rendered thirty-one (31) years of service and above.
Section 30 further provides affected personnel are entitled to refund of Pag-IBIG contributions and commutation of unused vacation and sick leave credits.

Funding, implementing rules, and legal effect

Section 31 directs that the amount necessary for effective implementation shall be taken from funds available to agencies enumerated in Section 28.
Section 31 provides that additional requirements are charged to appropriations under the current General Appropriations Act.
Section 31 requires that sums needed for continued implementation be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Section 32 requires the PSA Board with the PSA, PSRTI, NEDA, and other concerned agencies determined by the PSA Board to formulate implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days after approval.
Section 32 provides that the implementing rules take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.
Section 33 includes a separability rule that invalidity of any part, section, or provision does not affect the rest.
Section 34 repeals Executive Order No. 121 and repeals or modifies all inconsistent laws, decrees, ordinances, rules, regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof.
Section 35 provides effectivity upon approval.