Statistical Training and Capacity Development: The Philippine Experience

1. Statistical Training and Capacity Development: The Philippine Experience Presented by Jessamyn O. Encarnacion OIC-Director, Social Statistics Office International Forum on Monitoring National Development: Issues and Challenges 27-29 September 2011Beijing, People’s Republic of China

2. Outline of Presentation • The Philippine Statistical System • The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • Concluding Remarks and Ways Forward

3. I. The Philippine Statistical System • The Philippine Statistical System is a decentralized statistical system • Many government agencies generate statistics • National Statistics Office • Bureau of Agricultural Statistics • Bureau of Labor & Employment Statistics • Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • DENR, DOT, DepED, CHED, DOH, DOST, etc. • Need for a coordinating agency – the National Statistical Coordination Board

4. I. The Philippine Statistical System The Philippine Statistical System Framework of Coordination in thePhilippine Statistical System LegislativeOffice ExecutiveOffice Training, Education and ResearchInstitutions Policy-making/ Coordinating Agency Data Users Data Producers • local • international Data Suppliers/Respondents

5. I. The Philippine Statistical System The Philippine Statistical SystemMajor Statistical Agencies produces general-purpose statistics Produces establishment- based labor and employment statistics produces agricultural statistics conducts short-term courses in statistics and researches to enhance methodologies, concepts, etc. Policy-making and coordinating body produces money and banking statistics

6. I. The Philippine Statistical System Statistical Research and Training Center • Research and Training Arm of the Philippine Statistical System (PSS); • Its mission is to improve quality of statistical information through conduct of objective and responsive statistical research and training activities of highest standards; • Six professional staff in the Training Division (TD) – the unit responsible for development/updating and implementation of non-degree trainings of the agency; • Nine staff for Research and Information Technology Division (RITD)

7. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • Statistical Manpower of the Philippine Statistical System • Information obtained through the Performance Measurement Scheme implemented by the NSCB • Efforts of the NSCB on Statistical Research and Capacity Development • Statistical Training Program of the SRTC • Philippine Statistical Development Program 2011-2017

8. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • Statistical Manpower of the Philippine Statistical System • NSCB Executive Board approved the implementation of the Performance Measurement Scheme (PMS) on May 15, 2000 (NSCB Resolution No.1 Series of 2000 ) • PMS was conducted by the NSCB in 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2009 • Covering national statistical agencies and statistical unit of other selected data producers • Respondents: • All six major statistical agencies • Fifteen (15) other government agencies producing designated statistics • Two other interested agencies which are not producing designated statistics yet- but volunteered to be part of the scheme (e.g., DTI and DSWD)

9. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • Statistical Manpower of the Philippine Statistical System • Part of the objectives of the PMS: • Assess the progress of the agencies in developing their capabilities to deliver outputs that meet user demands amidst existing resource constraints; and • Determine the capabilities of agencies in responding to the needs of their clients and other stakeholders

10. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • Statistical Manpower of the Philippine Statistical System We do not have sufficient statisticians! Statisticians are necessary for us to be able to compete against the knowledge-based economies of the Third Millennium! Statistical Manpower– Number of Employees per 100,000 population Source: Performance Measurement Scheme, NSCB Source: Performance Measurement Scheme, NSCB

11. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • Statistical Manpower of the Philippine Statistical System We need more well-trained statisticians! Statistical Manpower – Percentage of Employees Source: Performance Measurement Scheme, NSCB

12. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • Statistical Manpower of the Philippine Statistical System Statisticians need to be trained more! Statistical Manpower – Local and Foreign Trainings Source: Performance Measurement Scheme, NSCB

13. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • Statistical Manpower of the Philippine Statistical System We are not investing enough in Statistics! How can we benefit from the Full Power of Statistics? Budget of Statistical Offices (NSCB, NSO, SRTC, BAS, BLES)

14. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • Efforts of the NSCB on Statistical Research and Capacity Development • 2.1 Conduct of statistical researches and development studies • Overall revision/rebasing of the Philippine System of National Accounts • Satellite accounts (e.g., tourism, environment, health, education, volunteerism) • GDP/GNP by sex; “Adjusted GDP/GNP” by sex (accounting for unpaid house work) • Small area estimation of poverty • Towards measures of well-being: pilot study on the Philippine Happiness Index • Identification of the middle-income class • among others.

15. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • Efforts of the NSCB on Statistical Research and Capacity Development • 2.2 Trainings and Scholarships • Local and foreign • Short- and long-term • 2.3 Participation in international conferences/forums/workshops, etc. • Sharing of country experiences, best practices • Learnings/knowledge on latest innovations, methodologies on statistics

16. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • Efforts of the NSCB on Statistical Research and Capacity Development • 2.4 Conduct of Forums • Consultative Forums • Users’-Producers’ Forums • Dissemination Forums • Round Table Discussions (among academicians, non-government organizations, etc.) • 2.5 Partnership with the Media • Knowledge Sharing Sessions among Journalists • Statistical Appreciation Seminars • 2.6 Monitoring the Actual Policy Uses of Statistics Guiding principle: Statistical capacity building of BOTH producers and USERS

17. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • 3. Statistical Training Program of the SRTC • Design and conduct of non-formal statistical training programs intended to improve capability of government statistical personnel in handling statistical work • Of two kinds – regular and specialized/customized training courses • Regular courses are on: data collection and processing, database management, data analysis and statistical modeling, statistical report writing, and statistical presentation/dissemination; • Specialized/customized courses cover any topics on statistics requested by local and international clients (usually implemented in partnership with UN agencies and/or other international institutions)

18. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • 3. Statistical Training Program of the SRTC • Strategies: • Linkages with premier academic institutions in statistics, major statistical agencies, other government agencies, and international agencies with offices in the country • Building-up of training affiliates in the regions through partnership with Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) such as colleges and universities in the regions • Partnerships with agencies of the UN such as UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, SIAP; with aid-giving institutions like WB, ADB, JICA

19. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • 4. Philippine Statistical Development Program 2011-2017 • Advocacy for statistical development is  very strong in the agenda of PARIS 21. • At the country level, it pushes for the formulation of a statistical development plan generically called the National Strategies for the Development of Statistics or NSDS. • The Philippine version is called the Philippine Statistical Development  Program (PSDP), now on its eighth episode (since 1976) and prepared as an interagency collaboration within the PSS under the stewardship  of  the NSCB. • Two of its chapters: • Statistical Capacity Building • Research and Development

20. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • 4. Philippine Statistical Development Program 2011-2017 • 4.1 Chapter on Statistical Capacity Building • Proposed Statistical Programs: • Formulation and implementation of integrated training agenda for the PSS taking into consideration the statistical capacity programs of the sector specific agencies and development/updating of training curricula and materials • Strengthening partnership with the academe in the delivery of training programs and in establishment of state-of-the-art training facilities   • Conduct of the following: • Data Appreciation Seminars on Statistics • seminars/internal press conferences on statistics • capacity building for the analysis and utilization of collected information

21. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • 4. Philippine Statistical Development Program 2011-2017 • 4.1 Chapter on Statistical Capacity Building • Proposed Statistical Programs: • Development and implementation of training program for middle management personnel in the PSS • Building a pool of competent resource persons for the statistical trainings at the national and local levels

22. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • 4. Philippine Statistical Development Program 2011-2017 • 4.2 Chapter on Research and Development • Proposed Statistical Programs: • Research needs assessment • Updating of research agenda, which should be aligned with the goals/thrusts of the PSS • Establish mechanism to guarantee conduct of R&D that will address issues and emerging needs of PSS • R&D Coordination • Monitoring of the conduct of statistical researches based on Research Agenda • Partnership with the academe • Conduct of various fora to disseminate research outputs • Online public access catalog • Archiving of statistical researches

23. II. The Philippine Environment in Statistical Research and Capacity Development • 4. Philippine Statistical Development Program 2011-2017 • 4.2 Chapter on Research and Development • Proposed Statistical Programs: • Establishment of research fund • Establishment of data/ research warehousing and archiving for the PSS • R&D "Internship Program“ • Establish tie-ups with foreign institutions on researches • Conduct of collaborative researches with institutions abroad

24. III. Concluding Remarks and Ways Forward • Capacity Building • Need for continuous building of capability of both data producers and data users, at the national and subnational levels • Need to address inadequacy of resources for statistical capacity building programs • Need to address fast employee turnovers 17

25. III. Concluding Remarks and Ways Forward • Financing of statistical development • Inadequate government appropriations for statistical activities, particularly for periodic activities • Inadequate financial resources to undertake developmental activities or address emerging concerns • Need for private sector to invest on statistics as well • Statistical agencies must learn to tap technical and financial assistance through foreign grants and address institutionalization issues 19

26. Mabuhay and Thank you! URL: http://www.nscb.gov.ph e-mail: info@nscb.gov.ph