PSA appeals for public cooperation in 2020 Census amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday appealed to the public to cooperate with the data collection for the 2020 census, as it assured that enumerators will follow physical distancing measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a virtual press conference, National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said enumerators are scheduled to start data gathering next Tuesday, September 1.

"Ang aming mga paghahanda at kooperasyon ng bawat isa ay kinakailangan upang maging successful ang 2020 Census of Population and Housing," he said.

"Hindi makakaila kung gano kahalaga ang Census of Population and Housing sa ating bansa sa pagsasaayon at maayos na pagpapatupad ng programang pangtaongbayan, lalo na sa panahon ng pandemya," he added.

Data collection

The data collection will have two parts—one for population, and one for housing.

"Ang mga datos na makukuha sa census na ito ay isa sa magiging batayan ng gobyerno upang masolusyunan ang mga problemang panlipunan," said Mapa.

"Ito rin ay mahalaga sa mga targeted programs para sa mga lokalidad, tulad ng mga programang pang-edukasyon, kalusugan, seguridad, kahirapan, at iba pa," he added.

The collection period was initially scheduled from May 1 to 29 this year, but was moved to the month of September, and Mapa said this could take until the end of the year.

"We understand that we are under this pandemic and we understand that some areas, 'yung ibang areas pwede talagang mag-lockdown," said Mapa.

"Gusto kong sabihin na hindi kami pumupunta sa areas na high-risk hangga't wala kaming clearance ng barangay officials," he added.

Data enumerators

According to Mapa, the PSA has hired some 140,000 personnel for this year's data — 113,364 enumerators; 22,672 supervisors; and 4,747 area supervisors.

All of them, Mapa said, will adhere to health safety standards when collecting data. They are required to maintain physical distancing and will be wearing both face masks and face shields.

Enumerators will also be wearing a data collection shirt and identification from the PSA. They will also be wearing a cap and will have with them a cap and a clipboard.

Interview options

Mapa said the survey would be preferably done along the gateway or the doorway of the houses, and that respondents may choose to do the interview via several options.

The first option is the face-to-face option, which is estimated to take 15 to 30 minutes. This is the primary and default option.

Given the current conditions, Mapa said respondents may choose to do it self-administered, where the eight-page questionnaires will be left with the household and will just be collected later on.

Respondents can also choose to submit their data via phone interview, with their contact details collected by enumerators when they head to households.

Those with internet connections can also accomplish the forms online, through a code which would be provided by the PSA.

For those in high-risk areas, Mapa said they will be skipped for the meantime and enumerators will return to collect data once conditions improve.

"Nais naming ipagbatid sa publiko na ang data enumerators ng PSA ay mahigpit na sumusunod sa health and safety protocols upang mapanatiling ligtas ang pagsasagawa ng census," said Mapa.

Data security

In the same briefing, Mapa assured the public that the information collected will be secured and will not require specific information for individuals.

"Only aggregated information will be released... Walang data o tabulation ang makakapagbigay ng identity ng sinumang indibidwal o household," said Mapa.

"Sinisiguro namin ang publiko na ang lahat ng datos na makukuha sa Census na ito ay strictly confidential," he said.

Mapa noted that the data collection is mandated by Philippine laws, and the public is urged to cooperate to avoid facing penalties.

Moving forward, Mapa said the PSA aims to finish data collection for the 2020 Census by May 2021.

"'Yung aming timetable, ine-expect naman namin talaga na magsa-slide ito ng konti dahil nga sa ating problem, pero gusto namin tapusin at makapag-report kami sa ating Presidente kung ano na talaga 'yung bilang ng mga Pilipino as of May 1, 2021," he said.—AOL, GMA News