QC lawmakers seek probe on ‘irregular’ PSA population census

Three lawmakers on Thursday sought an investigation into the alleged irregularities of the Philippine Statistics Authority's (PSA) 2020 population census in Quezon City.

According to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, the PSA census released showed a population increase of only 23,932 or 0.81% in the last five years. This is far from the projected growth rate of 2.42% per annum or increase of 12.1% per five years.

Quezon City Representatives Jesus "Bong" Suntay, Jose Christopher “Kit” Belmonte, and Alfred Vargas questioned the PSA census, citing that the Civil Registry Department of Quezon City reported 300,000 births and only 100,000 deaths in the past five years, which indicates at least a 6.8% increase in population.

In filing House Resolution 2171, the QC lawmakers urged Congress to conduct an inquiry "on the probable discrepancies in the PSA report."

The solons warned that inaccurate figures might affect the delivery of social programs in the locality, including pandemic response, financial assistance and vaccine allocation.

In a statement, Belmonte had asked the PSA to validate its figures and coordinate with QC villages, which lost a "significant portion" of 30% to 50% of their population.

“Napaka-imposible ng resulta ng census na ito. Paanong nangyari na ganun lang ang itinaas ng aming populasyon, na malayung-malayo sa datos na nakalap ng aming Civil Registry Department,”  Belmonte said.

(This census is very impossible. How did that happen if our population is very far from the data that our Civil Registry Department reported.)—LDF, GMA News