Aklan SP Hosts Research Studies Utilization Fora

by Odon S. Bandiola

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan, joined in the observance of the National Statistics Month in October. It hosted the presentation of Research Studies and Utilization Fora held at the SP Session Hall on October 1 and 8, 2013.

The forum was mainly organized by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) under Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Roger M. Esto and the Aklan Rivers System Development Council under Executive Director Allen S. Quimpo.

Two (2) research outputs were presented during the forum on October 1 and two researches on October 8. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 6’s “Stakeholders participation in Water Development Program” and that of the Aklan State University’s “The Aklan River System: Physico-chemical characteristics, Geomorphology, Hydrology, Biodiversity, and Socio-Economic and Cultural Profile” where presented.

DENR’s study leader Conrado B. Marquez took the cudgels in presenting the agency’s study on stakeholders’ participation watershed management using the Tigum-Aganan, Maasin, Iloilo Watershed Forest Reserve as model. He proposed it to be replicated in the Nabaoy River Watershed Management in Malay, Aklan.

The Tigum-Aganan Watershed supplies the potable water supply requirements of the greater portion of Iloilo Province while the Nabaoy River provides the potable water supply of Boracay Island.
Professors of the Aklan State University also presented its profiling of the Aklan River System which emanates from its headwaters in Libacao town at the South and drains to the Sibuyan Sea at the north in Kalibo and Numancia.

The ASU researchers profiled the river by its physico-chemical characteristics, geomorphology, hydrology, biodiversity, and socio-economic and cultural profile.

Aklan Vice Governor Gabrielle V. Calizo – Quimpo and Aklan Rivers Development Council Executive Director Allen S. Quimpo both emphasized the indispensability of statistics in the social, political and economic life of every Filipino and anybody else in the world.

The statistical forum held on Tuesday, October 8 at the SP Session Hall presented the study of the Philippine Institute of Development Studies on “Conditional Cash Transfer Program in the Philippines: Is it reaching the Extremely Poor?”. /MP

Bizmen UrgeTo Support I-O Survey

The National Statistics Office-Aklan urges owners/managers of business establishments to support the 2012 Input-Output Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (IOSPBI) to be conducted starting September 19, 2013.

The 2012 IOSPBI is a nationwide survey which aims to collect detailed data on revenue, cost and inventories in business and industries belonging to the formal sector of the economy for the year 2012. These data are needed to build an input structure and to construct a distribution of output for the 2012 I-O Table.

According to Provincial Statistics Officer Blas M. Solidum, the I-O Table is used to analyze quantitatively the structure and correlation of producing and consuming sectors in the economy. It provides detailed information on the flow of goods and services, forecasting, sensitivity testing, impact analysis and price-cost analysis.

“For example, if the minimum wage increases by 50 percent there will be a significant price change in public education by 46.31 percent, public health by 36.54 percent, postal and courier activities by 30.30 percent. Likewise, CPI and Producers Price Index will also increase by 15.45 and 13.55 percent, respectively,” Mr. Solidum explained.

That is why, according to Solidum, it is important to gather a detailed data on cost and revenue of the business to formulate a framework for analysis of the inter-industry use of goods and services, its intermediate uses and the flow of goods and services up to the final demand.

“In this way, policy makers can compare alternative courses of action in terms of setting prices increase for critical commodities and wage adjustments,” Solidum stressed.

The Province of Aklan has a total of 36 identified sample establishments in this survey that complement the estimated total samples of 12,000 establishments nationwide.

Mr. Solidum assured the respondents that all information furnished to NSO will be held “strictly confidential” and cannot be used for taxation, investigation or for other law enforcement purposes.  /MP