THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will conduct a pilot census for the “2020 Census of Population and Housing” (CPH) from Monday, May 20, to June 17.

PSA 7 Director Ariel Florendo said the 2020 CPH will be a nationwide activity involving collection, compilation, evaluation, analysis, publication and dissemination of data on population count, demographic and housing characteristics.

It will include household and housing characteristics and barangay characteristics in each barangay, municipality, city, province and region in the country.

Florendo said the census also aims to provide government executives, policy makers and planners with population and housing data on which to base their social and economic development plans, policies and programs.

He said that in reference to the first Philippines census conducted in 1903, the 2020 CPH is the 15th Census of Population and 7th Census of Housing in the Philippines.

This will also be the first census undertaking that will adopt the Computer Assisted Personal Interview technique that will involve gathering information with the use of an electronic questionnaire contained in tablets.

In Cebu City, the pilot census will be conducted in Barangays Banilad and Talamban.

He said the pilot census was reviewed and cleared for conduct under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System, a mechanism being implemented by the PSA by virtue of Rule 28 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10625.

The law provides to ensure sound design for data collection, minimize the burden placed upon respondents and effect economy in statistical data collection efforts.

This is also to eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts, and achieve better coordination of government statistical activities. (EOB)