Treñas asks barangay officials to assist census takers
City Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday called on barangay officials in the city to assist trained census takers in the conduct of the 2007 Census of Population which starts on August 1, 2007. This is to get the accurate and reliable count of city residents.
Treñas said barangay officials should guide the census takers to get the real view of the city's population count. The 2007 POPCEN data will be the basis for the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of each barangay and city.
The data will also be used to determine the creation of new local government units and or conversion of some of the existing local government units to higher level. This is relative to the provisions of the 1991 Local Government Code.
He lamented that the population count conducted last 2000 did not reflect the accurate number of population of the city. The record in that year showed that the city has a total of some 300,000 residents of which around 250,000 are considered as voters aging from 18 years old and above. Treñas estimated the population at the time of the survey as between 500,000 to 600,000 and not 300,000.
Treñas added that he already asked the National Statistics Office and Population Commission to coordinate with the barangay officials and health volunteers of each barangay when they go house to house. The census takers will also be accompanied by a policeman.
The presence of the policeman will erase doubts among homeowners of the personality of the census takers. Some house owners are afraid to let the census takers in for fear that they could be robbers, said Treñas.