THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Regional Statistical Services Office IV-A conducted a three-day training on the Framework for the Development and Environment Statistics (FDES) on July 5-7, 2023 at JET Hotel, Lipa City, Batangas.
Participants were taught on the conceptual foundation of the FDES, its structure and application, importance of compiling environment statistics of the region, and determine the availability of data requirements from relevant data source agencies.
Resource speakers were composed of Technical staff from the Environment and National Resources Accounts Division (ENRAD) under the Macroeconomic Accounts Service of the PSA. RD Charito Armonia in her welcome remarks thanked the various agencies that were present for the activity .
She was very glad for this endeavor since this will be a milestone for the region at the same time it will be good to have a compilation of environment data that can be used by our policymakers and program managers to address the environmental concerns of the region and the whole country
as well. Chief Statistical Specialist (CSS) Virginia M. Bathan, in her overview, emphasized that it is timely to have the compilation of environment data/statistics since we have environmental issues to address, namely climate change adaptation, depletion of our natural resources among others. In addition, CSS Aldrin Federico R. Bahit of PSA Cordillera Administrative Region was also invited to share their experience in their compilation of environment statistics.
As part of the output of the activity, a consolidated Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis was presented where in participants cited that budget constraints, prioritization of local government units and government agencies among others as threat (and also a weakness) in the compilation effort.
As strength, it was recognized that with the strong collaboration of agencies in various committees that address environmental issues in the region together with other stakeholders, the endeavor will be a success.
The training was joined by representatives from the Regional/Provincial offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources IV-A and its attached agencies namely Environment and Management Bureau and Mineral and Geosciences Bureau, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Energy, Department of Science and Technology and its attached agency the PAGASA, Land Transportation Office, National Economic and Development Authority, National Irrigation Administration, Office of Civil Defense, Provincial Planning and Development Offices and from the Southern Tagalog Association of Water Districts.
PSA CALABARZON’s continuous initiative to compile and account the natural resources of the region following internationally agreed statistical frameworks demonstrates its commitment to deliver relevant and reliable statistics, and in line with the proposed Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) which recognizes the critical role of natural capital in our country’s sustainable development.
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