NEDA cites aggie, fishery stats in fighting poverty

Statistics on agriculture and fishery is crucial in fighting poverty and attaining economic development, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

NEDA Agriculture Staff Director Felizardo K. Virtucio Jr. stressed the need to measure the critical developments in the sector and see if government interventions are indeed making inroads in the sector so that necessary strategic adjustments are made in time.

Speaking at the opening ceremonies of the 16th National Statistics Month (NSM), Virtucio said the agriculture and fishery sector continues to be the lynchpin of the Philippine economy.

"The sector is the country’s major source of raw materials and potentially the biggest consumer market on which the rest of the economy depends," he said. "It [agriculture and fishery sector] is also where most of the country’s labor force originate, thus playing a major role in the generation of incomes and employment in the country."

He added that the sector is also where "the war on poverty can be won or lost since it is in these areas where most of the country’s poor and vulnerable groups reside."

Aside from keeping the Philippine Statistical System (PSS) dynamic, proactive and adaptable to continue providing relevant, timely and accurate information to decision-makers, Virtucio stressed that the system must be able to adjust to the varying needs even while maintaining a core set of development indicators.

Different administrations have varying development thrusts and strategies and it is incumbent upon the PSS to be able to adequately adjust to the changing needs of its principals. The NEDA official noted that the output of this year’s NSM celebration will also be an input to the 2005-2010 Philippine Statistical Development Program (PSDP) formulation. "The PSDP is envisioned to be the statistical blueprint for the 2004-2010 Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP)."