COTABATO CITY — Regional Statistics Committee (RSCom), a special committee under the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), successfully conducted on Wednesday, August 11, its third regular meeting for the calendar year 2021 held at the office of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA).
Engr. Naser Usman, RSCom Co-Chairperson and OIC Regional Director of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA BARMM), led the meeting together with BPDA Deputy Director General Engr. Amil J. Abubakar who represented Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, RSCom Chairperson and BPDA Director General.
In his message, Engr. Abubakar commended the presence and active participation of the members during committee meetings as an avenue and instrument in pushing forward the Bangsamoro Government’s thrust on statistical development in the BARMM.
“Our work in the RSCom has depended on and continues to depend on the members’ active involvement to help fulfill our commitment to strengthening evidence-based governance towards regional development,” Engr. Abubakar said.
Mahmur H. Sarail, Chief Statistical Specialist of PSA BARMM, presented the details of the 6th RSCom Summit, an annual event that will highlight the significant role of the said committee as BARMM’s policymaking body on statistical matters and lead partner in pursuing the region’s development plans.
“The 6th RSCom Summit is tentatively scheduled on September 24 as a back-to-back event to the Philippine Statistical Development Plan (PSDP) 2018-2023 update workshop to be held on September 22-23, 2021,” Sarail stressed.
Meanwhile, Norhayyah Tula, Senior Statistical Specialist of PSA BARMM, discussed the upcoming celebration of the 32nd National Statistics Month (NSM) slated on October 2021.
“The Philippine Statistical System (PSS) with its partners celebrate the NSM to promote, enhance, instill awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of society, and elicit the cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics in the country,” she said.
Bearing the theme “NSM@32: Reviving up for Economic and Social Recovery Through Evidence-Based Policies”, this year’s celebration shall highlight the role of reliable statistics and factual information in determining appropriate strategies in revitalizing the economy and recovery of the social sector on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the society.
Engr. Akan Tula, Chief Administrative Officer of PSA BARMM’s Civil Registration and Administrative Supports Division, reported an update on the ‘PhilSys Registration’ in the BARMM, highlighting the current location and numbers of registration centers in the region.“As of July 23, 2021, the BARMM has a cumulative registration of 171,977 or an equivalent of 11.36% of the total target of 1,513,866,” he emphasized.
Moreover, updates on the milestones and presentation of the Bangsamoro Regional Statistical Development Program (BRSDP) 2021-2023 were also discussed during the meeting.
Attendees at the BPDA were representatives from the Ministries of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD), and Labor and Employment (MOLE). The Ministries of Health (MOH), Transportation and Communications (MOTC), Interior and Local Government (MILG), Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), Science and Technology (MOST), Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT), Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE), Social Services and Development (MSSD), Finance and Budget and Management (MFBM), Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO), Technical Management Services-Office of the Chief Minister (TMS-OCM), BARMM Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (BARMM-READi), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas – Cotabato Branch, and Bangsamoro Treasury Office (BTO) were also present via Zoom video teleconference. (BPDA-BARMM)