NSO urges cooperation for Popcen
National Statistics Office (NSO) Iloilo Provincial Statistician Nelida Amolar urged the cooperation of the residents of this city in the conduct of the 2007 Census of Population (POPCEN) starting today, August 1 to 30, 2007.
"The cooperation of the public with our census enumerators by providing them with accurate replies or information will greatly contribute to the success of this undertaking," said Amolar.
The NSO-Iloilo has temporarily hired about 200 people to augment their staff who will go on house-to-house visits and interview head or responsible members of some 82,382 projected households in this city during the conduct of the 2007 POPCEN aimed to make a complete count of all residents, both Filipino and foreigners, who have stayed or are expected to stay for at least a year in the Philippines.
Amolar said the 200 hires are composed of 162 enumerators, 33 team supervisors and 5 area supervisors, all trained by NSO.
Amolar assured respondents that any information given to census enumerators shall be held strictly confidential as guaranteed by Section 4 of Commonwealth Act. No. 591. However, she warned those who refuse to give and provide false information to census enumerators of the corresponding penalties.
Section 3 of Commonwealth Act No. 591 provides penalty, upon conviction, of a fine of not more than P600 or imprisonment of not more than three months, or both, to any person who unjustifiably refuses to furnish the information called for in the census questionnaire, or to any person who knowingly gives data or information which shall prove to be materially true.
Amolar stressed the importance of updated data on population counts to our government planners, policy makers and administrators as basis for their social and economic development plans and programs. She added that businesses and industries also use the statistical information from the census to determine the following: sites for establishing businesses; consumer demands for various goods and services; and supply of labor for the production of goods and services.
Amolar said their enumerators could be easily identified as they will be wearing official POPCEN t-shirts and Ids.
(PIA)