Guimaras to launch First Data Festival for 35th NSM

The Provincial Statistics Committee (PSC) of Guimaras is set to launch the province’s first Data Festival as part of the 35th National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration in October. The event, led by the PSC—a subcommittee of the Provincial Development Council—aims to highlight the critical role of data and statistics in evidence-based planning and decision-making.

“The month-long celebration will officially kick off on October 1 with an opening program and the ribbon-cutting of the Data Expo, organized by PSC member agencies, the academe, civil society organizations, and local government units at the Guimaras Visitor’s Hub in San Miguel, Jordan,” said Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare.

• Event Highlights

The celebration includes a wide range of activities, such as a digital logo design competition for the official PSC seal, a research conference hosted by Guimaras State University, and the “Kaathagan sa Estadistika” session. Other key events are the First Guimaras Data Pitching Challenge, a Senior Citizens Congress, and data advocacy initiatives focused on vital events registration.

In addition, there will be capacity development training on data management and analysis, the Kabataan First Data Summit at both the municipal and provincial levels, and a statistical infographics contest for youth participants. The Search for Local Governance Quiz GEMS (Guimaras Enthusiasts with Mastery and Skills) and the provincial elimination round of the Philippine Statistics Quiz for first-year college students will also take place. The celebration will conclude with the closing and awarding ceremonies.

• Presidential Proclamation and Theme

The annual NSM observance is held every October under Presidential Proclamation No. 647, signed by the late President Corazon C. Aquino on September 30, 1990. The proclamation seeks to promote public awareness and appreciation of the importance of statistics across different sectors and to encourage public cooperation in enhancing the quality of national statistics.

“This year’s theme, ‘Advancing Data and Statistics Through Digital Transformation: A Road to an Empowered Nation,’ underscores efforts to modernize the statistical system by adopting digital tools to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and accessibility of statistics,” Losare explained.

• Call for Participation

Losare also called on national government agencies, local government units, the academe, and the private sector to support and participate in the first-ever Data Festival.

“The success of the 35th NSM celebration in Guimaras depends on the active involvement of all sectors,” she said.