PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE
October 3, 2008

The provincial government joins the nationwide celebration of the 19th National Statistics Month (NSM) for the whole month of October with lots of exciting and meaningful activities in store.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. created the Provincial Steering Committee through Executive Order No. 0040-2008 to formulate and ensure the success of statistical activities in the province with Board Member Danilo B. Dizon as its chairman.

This year’s theme "Demand-Driven Statistics: Key to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development," focus on the use of statistics in guiding, developing and growing the business of the entrepreneurs specially the micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Provincial Administrator Raffy Baraan, who represented Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. in the opening ceremony at Lingayen I, Central School in Lingayen, said that based on statistics “there are more small business in the Philippines that are really sustaining our economy.”

Mr. Baraan further urged the National Statistics Office (NSO) to translate surveyed data into useful informations.

On his message to the high school students, he encouraged them to study harder and be the best of what they can be now because “we are living in a very competitive world where there is no room for mediocrity.”

Likewise, Alaminos Credit Cooperative, Inc. President and businesswoman Clarita Fajardo encouraged the students to try business also aside from nursing and care giving course.
Based on Statistics, 55% of the work force is hired by the SMEs while big industries only hired 2.98%. This means that there are more jobs in SMEs.

Meanwhile, the education sector also expressed their earnest support to the NSM activities as DepEd officials issued a memorandum mandating all private and public elementary and secondary schools to integrate NSM celebration in one of their lessons for the whole month of October to instill awareness among the youth of the value of statistics.

Various contests will also be held to engage these students to NSM activities such as: oratorical, poster-slogan making and essay writing and statistical quiz.

Other activities in line are: advocacy forum, online business name registration and one on one business counseling on October 16 at the City Auditorium and AVR City Hall of Alaminos City; kite making and flying contest at the Lucap Wharf, Alaminos City on October 25 at 8 a.m, while the closing and awarding ceremony will be on October 29 in Alaminos City.

The provincial steering committee is co-chaired by Mr. Dante L. Pescador of National Statistics Office (NSO) with the following member agency: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Dagupan, BAS, DOST, TESDA, PNP, PPDO, PPO, PIO, APSCU, PEDPF, LGUs, DepEd Pang I, II, Dagupan City, San Carlos City, Alaminos and Urdaneta City. (PIO/Ninia F. Nicolas)