PSA Iloilo forum spotlights student-led data innovations

ILOILO CITY — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Regional Statistical Services Office VI strengthened public awareness of the importance of statistics in education and community development through the 2026 KomuniAksyon: Statistics as Building Blocks for a Better Future at the Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISATU) Main Campus in La Paz, Iloilo City.

The activity gathered 206 participants, including 154 representatives from the academe, 19 from local government units (LGUs), eight from private institutions and regional line agencies, and 25 PSA personnel.

The strong participation from the academic sector highlighted the importance of introducing students and educators to the practical use of statistics in understanding social issues, analyzing community needs, and making evidence-based decisions.

The program featured discussions on the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS), LGU utilization of statistical data, PSA official statistics, and data privacy.

These sessions demonstrated how reliable and timely data can support local development planning, improve public service delivery, and help communities identify their most pressing needs.

Established under Republic Act No. 11315, or the Community-Based Monitoring System Act, the CBMS provides local governments with detailed household and community data to support poverty reduction, identify beneficiaries of social protection programs, and guide development planning.

For students, the activity provided an opportunity to appreciate statistics beyond classroom lessons by connecting data to real-world situations.

Through exposure to official statistical resources and the CBMS, students can develop critical thinking, data literacy, and analytical skills essential for academic research, future careers, and responsible citizenship.

Understanding how data are collected, interpreted, protected, and used also empowers young people to become more informed participants in community development.

The event also featured lightning presentations on the PSA’s TUKLAS and CBMS Portal, access to PSA data products, and career opportunities within the agency.

A major highlight was the IDEA CTRL: CBMS Innovation Challenge, where participating students presented innovative, data-driven solutions using CBMS data to address local development concerns.

Among the three competing schools, West Visayas State University-Main Campus emerged as champion with Project A.V.A.T.A.R. (All-Hazard Vulnerability, Analysis, Tracking, and Area Risk).

The project proposes a geographic information system (GIS)-based decision-support platform that transforms community data into barangay-level disaster risk maps for the municipality of Pavia, Iloilo.

Covering hazards such as typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and fires, the platform aims to support evidence-based policymaking and improve awareness of disaster preparedness and risk reduction.

Securing second place was the SAKA-LINK Project of Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology-Main Campus.

The initiative envisions an agricultural service and knowledge network that uses CBMS data to deliver evidence-based and accountable interventions, create employment opportunities for young adults, and ensure that support services reach intended beneficiaries through an accessible and transparent mechanism.

Meanwhile, Project TULAY (Targeted Upskilling, Learning, and Advancement for Youth) of ISATU-Main Campus placed third.

The project uses CBMS data from Iloilo province to connect disadvantaged youth ages 15 to 30 with education, technical-vocational training, and employment opportunities.

It also features a proposed cost-sharing arrangement between the provincial government and participating employers to support structured industry-based learning placements, subject to legal, funding, and regulatory requirements.

All data used by the participating teams were accessed through approved data requests and covered by duly accomplished Data Product Agreement Forms (DPAFs).

Recipients were required to maintain data confidentiality, use the information solely for authorized purposes, properly acknowledge the PSA as the source, and comply with data use and sharing policies.

The requirements reinforce the importance of protecting sensitive information while making statistical data available for legitimate research, policymaking, and community development initiatives.

Open forums and interactive activities further encouraged dialogue among students, educators, government representatives, and other stakeholders, reinforcing the value of collaboration in promoting statistical awareness and responsible data use.

Through the 2026 KomuniAksyon, PSA RSSO VI reaffirmed its commitment to making official statistics accessible, understandable, and useful to the public, particularly the youth and academic community.

By equipping students with the knowledge and skills to understand and use data effectively, the initiative seeks to nurture a generation capable of making informed decisions and contributing to a more responsive, inclusive, and data-driven Western Visayas.