As a policy-making body on statistical matters at the provincial level, the Provincial Statistics Committee (PSC) of Davao de Oro convened for its regular meeting for the third quarter of calendar year 2023, last 27 September at Nabunturan. The meeting was presided by PSC Vice-Chairperson and Chief Statistical Specialist (CSS) Abraham Enrico E. Gulay, Jr. of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Davao de Oro, with 12 PSC member agencies in attendance. The convening was a success wherein the committee deliberated, adopted, and approved two (2) resolutions in support to the 34th National Statistics Month (NSM) in October 2023.

The committee were able to discuss seven (7) provisional agenda, to wit: (1) updates on the implementation of the 2022 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS), (2) updates in the conduct of the 2022 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries (2022 CAF), (3) profiling of tourism database in Davao de Oro, (4) reports on the results of the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), (5) enjoining the support of regional line agencies (RLAs), local government units (LGUs0, academe, and private sector to the 34th NSM, (6) approval and adoption of the 34th NSM calendar of activities, and (7) presentation of the latest PSA Board approved resolutions.

Highlighted during the discussion was the 34th NSM celebration in October 2023 with the theme: “Accelerating Progress: Providing Data and Statistics for Healthy Philippines”. The PSC Secretariat, headed by Supervising Statistical Specialist and NSM Provincial Focal Person of PSA Davao de Oro presented to the committee the following resolutions, PSC Resolution No. 04 on Enjoining Government Agencies, Local Government Units, Private Sectors and the Academe to Support the Celebration of the 34th National Statistics Month in Davao De Oro and PSC Resolution No. 05 on Approving the Calendar of Activities for the Celebration of the 34th National Statistics Month in Davao de Oro. These resolutions were unanimously passed by the Committee and they have also expressed their commitment to support this month-long celebration as the highest statistical body in the province.

Moreover, the discussion on the results of the 2022 NDHS was appreciated by the member agencies as this provides information on population, fertility, family planning, marriage, child health, child survival, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reproductive health, nutrition, gender issues, and tobacco and alcohol use. The whole deck of the results is available via the https://library.psa.gov.ph which was also shared to the Committee for their reference, not just for the 2022 NDHS results but also for all PSA data available for public consumption.

The convening was successfully concluded and the committee is set to meet for their fourth regular meeting in November.