Six Negros Occidental LGUs prepare for 2027 CBMS

BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine Statistics Authority has convened coordinating boards in six Negros Occidental localities to prepare local governments for the full implementation of the 2027 Community-Based Monitoring System.

The meetings were held in Cauayan, Moises Padilla and Victorias City on July 7; Escalante City and Murcia on July 8; and Bago City on July 10.

The coordinating boards will oversee local preparations and help ensure that the collection, processing and use of community-level data follow CBMS standards and PSA protocols.

The discussions covered the legal bases, objectives, scope and coverage of the CBMS, as well as how local governments will operationalize the program.

Officials were also briefed on possible data items and the indicative schedule for data collection.

The PSA emphasized that collaboration with local government offices is essential for systematic data gathering, efficient logistics and compliance with technical standards.

The meetings also covered capacity-building support for local governments, including map research activities, the statistical survey review and clearance system, and the 2026 Updating of the List of Agriculture Farms.

In Cauayan, Mayor John Rey D. Tabujara presided over the Municipal CBMS Coordinating Board meeting at the municipal hall.

The activity was attended by 15 municipal board members, including office heads or their representatives, and two PSA personnel.

In Moises Padilla, Mayor Ella Celestina D. Garcia-Yulo presided over the coordinating board meeting.

The PSA release listed 13 municipal board members in the text but placed the figure at 15 in parentheses, in addition to two PSA personnel.

Victorias City convened its City CBMS Coordinating Board with 15 board members, including office heads, and three PSA personnel.

The meeting focused on defining each office’s responsibilities and strengthening the city government’s readiness for the 2027 rollout.

In Escalante City, 20 city board members and two PSA personnel attended the meeting at the New Government Center, also known as The Pentagon.

The Escalante gathering had the largest number of local board participants among the six meetings covered by the PSA releases.

Murcia Mayor Victor Gerardo M. Rojas presided over the municipality’s coordinating board meeting.

The activity gathered 16 municipal board members, including office heads or their representatives, and three PSA personnel.

Bago City’s meeting was attended by 16 city board members, including office heads or their representatives, and three PSA personnel.

City Administrator Edwin de Nicolas led the Bago convening with Riza M. Segovia, project development officer III and city planning and development coordinator-designate, and PSA Statistical Specialist II Fredimar M. Gonzales.

The CBMS is designed to generate detailed local information that governments may use in planning, budgeting and identifying households and communities that need public services.

The PSA said stronger local-level statistics can support community development, crisis response, poverty reduction and the implementation of social protection programs.

The six meetings form part of the agency’s preparations to align local offices before the nationwide data collection scheduled for 2027.