PSA Urges Iloilo Residents: Join Census Before May 15

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Iloilo has issued its final call for residents to participate in the 2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) and the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS), with enumeration set to end on May 15.

The PSA Iloilo Provincial Statistical Office is ramping up its appeal for cooperation as the census enters its concluding phase, emphasizing that residents in Iloilo City and surrounding municipalities who have yet to be enumerated should act swiftly.

“All remaining enumeration activities will conclude by May 15, so we strongly encourage residents who have not yet been interviewed to coordinate with us as soon as possible,” the PSA said in a statement.

Residents may contact PSA Iloilo via telephone at (033) 327-9219 or 509-9620, or email at iloilo@psa.gov.ph to confirm their participation.

They may also inform their Municipal or City Planning and Development Offices or coordinate through their Punong Barangays and local officials, who will work with PSA to schedule remaining interviews.

The 2024 POPCEN-CBMS aims to update the inventory of population data down to the barangay level, generating information crucial for national and local development planning.

According to PSA, the collected data will directly influence how the government identifies social protection beneficiaries and determines the equitable distribution of the National Tax Allocation (NTA) for Local Government Units (LGUs).

“This census is not just about numbers—it’s about inclusion,” said a PSA Iloilo official. “The more accurate our data, the better we can target government programs and allocate resources where they’re truly needed.”

Through CBMS, the census also gathers poverty indicators, access to basic services, and demographic data that LGUs and national agencies use to inform policies and programs.

The effort is aligned with Republic Act No. 11315 or the Community-Based Monitoring System Act, which mandates regular data collection to improve evidence-based governance.

The PSA reminds the public that participation in the census is both a civic duty and a valuable contribution to building a more inclusive and responsive government.

“Be counted. Be heard. Participate before May 15, 2025,” PSA Iloilo emphasized in its message.

As of April, Iloilo Province had achieved over 80% enumeration coverage, but several barangays, particularly in remote and high-density areas, remain partially covered.

Residents who fail to participate may inadvertently affect the accuracy of data used in planning infrastructure, education, health, and poverty reduction programs.

All information collected by PSA is confidential and protected under the Data Privacy Act and Republic Act No. 10625, the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013.