THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
S. B. NO. 
Introduced by Senator S.R. Osmetia 1 1 1  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 7, Article 111 of the Constitution states: "The right of the people to 
information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, 
and to documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as 
well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be 
afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law". 
The Philippine Statistical Service (PSS) is mandated to provide accurate and 
precise data for the purpose of planning, implementation and evaluation of government 
plans and projects for national development. However, the primary statistical agencies 
like the National Statistics Office (NSO) and the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) 
are either administratively attached to or structurally subsumed under national offices 
known to promote or implement programs and projects the success of which is 
constrained by several factors. Further, the absence of a strong coordinated mechanism 
gives rise to duplicate and conflicting statistical data, causing unnecessary burden on 
data users and respondents and delay in the release of official statistics which still need 
to be verified with the department secretaries concerned. As such, business processes 
in the private sector are unduly hampered. 
Efforts to provide statistical information to the public more efficiently and more 
effectively were previously undertaken with the filing of Senate Bill No. 474, entitled "An 
Act Reorganizing the Philippine Statistical System" on July 24, 1992. Unfortunately, this 
bill, which proposed the establishment of a National Statistics Authority, was not 
enacted into law. With the onset of information technology, demand for user-responsive 
and global statistical data not only from government, but most especially from private 
sectors, has multiplied a thousand-fold. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to establish the Commission for the Coordination of 
Philippine Statistical Service (Philstat), an independent body headed by a Government 
Statistician with a fixed term of office and the rank of a Cabinet Secretary. To rationalize 
the conduct of censuses and surveys, the Philippine Statistical Censuses and Surveys 
Administration (PSCSA) shall likewise be the principal arm of the government for all 
official censuses and surveys. 
Likewise, this proposed measure shall establish a separate National Civil 
Registration Office to eliminate the dual function given to the head of the NSO as both 
Administrator and Civil Registrar General. This will ensure the maintenance and safe- 
keeping of vital civil registration records, namely, births, deaths and marriages 


Finally, this bill shall provide mechanisms to protect information users against 
unscrupulous and non-credible private organizations offering statistical and information 
services. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested 
S&GIO R. OSMENA 111 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
( ,  
S E N A T E  
S. B. NO. __ 
2dll 
Introduced by Senator S.R. OsmeAa 111 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE COMMISSION FOR THE COORDINATION OF THE PHILIPPINE 
STATISTICAL SERVICE (PHILSTAT), RESTRUCTURING FOR THE PURPOSE THE 
PHILIPPINE STATISTICAL SYSTEM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be if enacted by fhe Senate and House of Represenfafives of fhe Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. - 
This Act shall be known as “The Philippine 
Statistical Act of 2005”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
promote efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of statistical information to the 
public through an integrated system characterized by independence, objectivity and 
integrity. It is likewise the policy of the State to promote the orderly development of a 
statistical system capable of providing timely, reliable and relevant statistics to guide the 
decision-making process of the Government, the private sector and the general public. 
Towards this end, there is a need to establish the Commission for the Coordination of 
the Philippine Statistical Service (Philstat), restructuring for the purpose the Philippine 
Statistical 
System by integrating the various government 
agencies engaged in 
statistical activities either as their primary functions or as part of their administrative or 
regulatory functions. 
SEC. 3. 
Philippine Statistical Service (PSS). - The PSS shall consist of a 
national agency for the coordination of the 
Philippine Statistical System(PSS), a 
national agency for censuses and surveys; a national agency for the maintenance and 


safekeeping of the civil registry and other vital statistics and statistical cells in all 
government institutions. It shall consist of three (3) distinct statistical information 
services as follows: 
1. Philippine Designated Statistics - responsible for the implementation of the 
various programs for national development which are principally provided by 
the Philippine Statistical Censuses and Surveys Administration (PSCSA). It 
shall be deemed official and available only 
for public use 
after theii- 
publication in the Philippine Statistical Gazette; 
2. Sectoral Statistics - statistical data obtained from surveys or official 
reportinglregistration forms carried out by national and local institutions, 
including government-owned-and-controlled 
corporations, which shall be 
undertaken under the supervision of a qualified statistical officer. Such data 
shall be included in the central database management system and shall 
likewise be available to the general public after their publication in the 
Philippine Statistical Gazette; and 
3. Special Statistics- 
statistics carried out by government and private 
institutions which shall only be credited when undertaken by a professional 
statistician. Such statistical data shall cover the following: 
Title 
Population and Geographic Coverage 
Sample Size 
Statistical Methodology 
Timing and Frequency 
Particulars about Executing Agency 
Name and License Number of 
Responsible Professional 
Statement of Purpose and Objective 
Statistician 
Abstract of the Results 


The executing agency shall be required to submit a technical report within the 
prescribed period to Philstat. Failure to do so would confine the report strictly to internal 
use only and may not be quoted in whole or in part for public consumption. The 
reported data shall be published in the Philippine Statistical Gazette. 
SEC. 4. 
Commission for the Coordination of the Philippine Statistical 
Service (Philstat). - To implement the policies and attain the objectives enunciated in 
this Act, the Commission for the Coordination of Philippine Statistical Service is hereby 
created. It shall be an independent body headed by the Government Statistician as 
Chairman, who shall have a fixed term of office and the rank of a cabinet secretary. He 
shall be appointed by the President from the list of nominees submitted by the 
Philippine Institute of Statisticians. 
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of Philstat. - 
The Commission for the 
Coordination of the Philippine Statistical Service shall be an independent government 
institution directly under the Office of the President and shall have the following powers 
and functions: 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
IO, 
Prepare statistical policies; 
Assume 
full 
responsibility 
for 
the 
coordination, 
promotion 
and 
development of the Philippine Statistical Service; 
Prepare medium-term and annual statistical programs with appropriate 
budgetary requirements for submission to Congress; 
Develop and prescribe the use of Philippine Statistical Standards and 
Classification System; 
Issue statistical clearances; 
Submit for consideration and approval of the President draft executive 
orders for the implementation of designated statistics; 
Assume responsibility for the release or dissemination of designated 
statistics; 
Accredit and classify private institutions undertaking statistical activities; 
Accredit and approve sectoral and special statistics; 


11. 
Appoint outpost national statistical officers in all national government 
offices, departments, constitutional offices, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, 
the Supreme Court, House of Representatives and the Senate; and 
Provide the environment for the promotion of statistical research and 
development. 
12. 
SEC. 6. Organization of Philstat. - Philstat shall be composed of the Chairman 
and directors for finance and administration; program, coordination, clearance and 
accreditation; and statistical standards, classification system and information service. 
The Chairman shall be assisted by two full time Associate Commissioners. 
The Dean of the University of the Philippines Statistical Center (School of 
Statistics), President of the national organization of professional statisticians (Philippine 
Institute of Statisticians) and the Administrator of the Philippine Statistical Censuses and 
Survey Administration (PSCSA) shall sit as ex-officio Commissioners of Philstat and 
shall be entitled to representation and transportation allowance. 
SEC. 7. 
Philippine Statistical Censuses and Survey Administration 
(PSCSA). - The PSCSA shall be responsible for all national censuses and surveys. It 
shall be headed by an Administrator who shall receive a compensation equivalent io 
that of a cabinet undersecretary and shall serve as an ex-officio Commissioner of 
Philstat. He shall be appointed by the President from among the nominees of the 
Philippine Institute of Statisticians and must be a Career Executive Service Officer I 
(CESO I). The Administrator shall be assisted by two Deputy Administrators who shall 
receive a compensation equivalent to that of an assistant secretary, and must be a 
Career Executive Service Officer I1 (CESO 11). 
SEC. 8. Organization. - The PSCSA shall consist of the following offices. 
Finance and Administration; Information Technology Management, Census and Survey 
Methodology; Agriculture and Resource Statistics; Population and Household Statistics; 
Physical and Institutional Statistics; Prices and Distributive Trade Statistics; and 
Regional, Provincial, City and District Offices. 


SEC. 9. Powers and Functions of PSCSA. - The PSCSA shall have the 
following powers and functions: 
1. 
Develop or conduct national censuses on population, agriculture, 
enterprises and establishments; 
Develop or conduct national survey programs for the following: 
a. agriculture, natural and physical resources; 
b. households; 
c. institutions; and 
d. prices, income and distributive trade. 
2 .  
3. 
Develop or conduct such other national surveys, as may be required for 
socio-economic policies, plans and programs; 
In coordination with the Statistical Research and Training Center (SRTC), 
conduct continuing research and development activities to improve the 
conduct of censuses, surveys and other applied statistical methods; 
5. 
Assist 
Philstat in the 
development, conduct, 
processing and 
4. 
dissemination of designated statistics; and 
6. 
Assist other government institutions in the conduct of primary data 
collection and processing activities for sectoral statistics. 
SEC. 10. 
National Civil Registration Office(NCR0). - The National Civil 
Registration Office created under Act No. 3735 shall be-administratively attached to 
Philstat. 
It shall be headed by a Civil Registrar General who must be a Careet- 
Executive Officer 1 1 1  and who shall be appointed by the Chairman of Philstat. 
The Registrar General shall enforce all existing laws on civil registration, as well 
as its implementing rules and regulations. 
The NCRO shall be primarily responsible for the orderly maintenance and safe- 
keeping of all civil registration records (births, deaths, marriages) and other vital 
statistics as may later on be defined by the State. 
All fees collected from the issuance of official birth, death and marriage 
certificates and other documents shall be used for the promotion and improvement of 


the Philippine Statistical Service. The income shall be allocated as follows: 40% to 
NCRO, 40% to SRTC's Endowment Fund, and 20% to augment PSCSA annual 
maintenance and operating expenses. 
SEC. 11. Statistical Research and Training Center (SRTC) - The Statistical 
Research and Training Center, created under 
Executive Order No. 121, shall be 
attached to Philstat for purposes of policy coordination. It shall be headed by a 
Managing Director who shall be appointed by the Chairman of Philstat and who shall 
have the rank of an assistant secretary.. 
The SRTC shall have a Governing Board that shall formulate policies for its 
management and operations. The Chairman of Philstat shall be the chairman of the 
SRTC Governing Board with the following as members: 
Dean of the University of the 
Philippines School of Statistics, President of the Philippine Institute of Statisticians, 
Administrator of PSCSA, President of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, a 
representative each from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM). The SRTC Managing Director shall serve as the Secretary of the 
Board. 
The SRTC shall submit for the approval of Philstat an annual financial plan to 
support its research and training program. The approved financial plan shall be the 
basis for determining government contribution to finance its research and training 
activities. The same shall be included in the Philstat annual appropriation and shall be 
distinct from the SRTC Endowment Fund, as provided for in Executive Order No 121 
and shall be managed under a separate account. 
SEC. 12. Statistical Cells in Other Government Institutions -All government 
agencies shall establish statistical cells in their respective organizations depending on the 
magnitude of statistical operations in the institution, The statistical cell may be a staff 
bureau, or a division under the Planning Service or directly undei- the Office of the 
Secretary of the agency concerned.. 


Philstat shall assign at least one statist'ical officer in each national government 
executive office (department level), constitutional offices like the Commission on Audit 
(COA), Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Supreme Court, Bangko Sentral ng 
Pilipinas, House of Representatives and the Senate. 
The statistical officer shall be 
responsible for providing technical assistance to these institutions in order to ensure 
proper implementation of their respective components of the Philippine Statistical 
Program. The agency concerned may designate the statistical officer as concurrent ex- 
officio head of its statistical cells. 
Local government units (LGUs) may establish their respective statistical cells and 
shall be responsible for the recruitment and appointment of statistical personnel to fill in 
the positions required. The Chief of the LGU statistical cells shall, however, comply with 
the reporting and monitoring requirements set by the Statistical Officer detailed with the 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Philstat may provide assistance 
in the formation of these cells and the recruitment of personnel. 
SEC. 13. 
Rights and Obligations of Personnel - The executing agency and 
its personnel shall collect information necessary in carrying out activities for the 
Philippine Designated Statistics. The same right is guaranteed for activities under 
Sectoral Statistics provided that such sectoral statistics are explicitly included in the 
Philippine Statistical Program. 
The executing agency and its personnel are obliged to observe the confidentiality 
of information proviso of this Act. Violators shall be penalized under Section 17 of this 
Act. 
Government personnel assigned to collect information shall present their 
credentials and inform respondents about the protection on the confidentiality of 
information before conducting any statistical investigation. Failure to comply with this 
requirement shall be a valid ground for refusal to provide any information by a 
respondent. 


The executing agency shall provide equal access to the information collected 
under the designated and sectoral statistics, subject to the confidentiality of information 
proviso of this Act. 
SEC. 14. 
Respondents and Suppliers of Information- Individuals or 
institutions may refuse to act as respondents, except for activities covered by the 
Philippine Designated Statistics. Likewise, respondents have the right to refuse 
government statistical personnel who fail to fulfill the conditions specified in Section '1 3 
hereof. However, respondents to designated statistics shall cooperate and provide the 
information being solicited. Failure to comply with this requirement shall be penalized 
under Section 17 of this Act. 
SEC. 15. General Public. - The general public shall have the right to access 
results of designated, sectoral and special statistics published in the Philippine 
Statistical Gazette. 
They have the right to request Philstat and the responsible 
organization to certify the credibility of statistics published in the Philippine Statistical 
Gazette. 
SEC. 16. 
Confidentiality of Information. - Any information which may 
violate the rights of individuals or institutions, as guaranteed by existing laws shall be 
treated with confidentiality. Any information provided by respondents to legal statistical 
investigations shall not be used as evidence in court or any other proceeding. 
SEC. 17 . Penal Provisions - Any individual or officers of any institution who 
knowingly conduct censuses without express authorization from Philstat shall be 
punished by a maximum of two (2) years imprisonment and a fine of P200,OOO.OO 
The head of any institution who fails to report the results of special statistics to 
Philstat and willingly causes the dissemination of the same shall be penalized by a 
maximum of two (2) years imprisonment and a fine of P700,OOO. Repeated violation of 
this provision shall be a ground for the cancellation of the license or permit of the 
institution. 


Executing agency found preventing any individual equal access to information 
shall be required to pay the aggrieved party the fine of P250,OOO. The head of the 
agency shall be suspended without pay for a maximum period of one (1) year. 
Institutions found violating the provisions on confidentiality of information shall 
pay a fine of P 500,000. Any individual found violating the provision on confidentiality 
of information shall be penalized by a maximum imprisonment of six (6) months and a 
fine of P 250,000. 
Respondents violating this provision shall be imprisoned for a maximum of one 
(1) year and six (6) months and a fine of P 250,000; If said respondent is an institution, 
its operation shall be suspended for ninety (90) days and a fine of P500,OOO; and 
Individuals or officers of institutions preventing the conduct of designated 
statistics or making false representations shall be punished by a maximum 
imprisonment of five (5) years and fine of P1,000,000. The operation of the institutions 
shall be suspended for six (6) months. 
SEC. 18. Transitory Provisions - The National Statistics Coordinating Board 
(NSCB) and the National Statistics Office (NSO) are hereby abolished and their 
respective functions and mandates shall be absorbed by Philstat and PSCSA. The 
personnel of these abolished institutions shall have the option to apply for retirement 
under existing laws on retirement or may avail of the retirement package provided for by 
this Act or apply for consideration under the plantilla of Philstat or PSCSA Personnel 
opting for early retirement may not be re-employed in any government institution for at 
least three years. 
Real property, buildings, equipment and other capital and financial assets of 
these institutions shall be transferred to Philstat or PSCSA following arrangement 
agreed upon by these institutions. Data holdings of NSO shall be transferred to PSCSA. 
Downsizing of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS). - The 
major statistical survey activities of BAS are deemed absorbed by PSCSA. As such 
BAS is hereby downsized and renamed as Agricultural Statistics and Economic 
SEC. 19. 


Analysis Service(ASEAS) under the Office of Policy and Planning of the Department of 
Agriculture (DA). Its head shall be at least a Career Executive. 
The personnel of BAS may opt to: (a) retire under existing laws on retirement or 
avail of the retirement benefits under this Act; (b) apply for consideration under the 
plantilla of Philstat or PSCSA; (c) seek to be retained under the new ASEAS; or (d) 
seek transfer to the other units of the Department Of Agriculture (DA) or other 
government institutions. 
Retired employees may not be re-employed in any government institutions within 
three (3) years. 
Real estate, buildings, equipment and other capital and financial assets deemed 
not relevant to the functions of the new ASEAS shall be transferred to Philstat/PSCSA. 
Data holdings shall be transferred to, and shared with PSCSA. 
SEC. 20. Retirement Benefits. - Employees who want to retire as a result of 
the implementation of this Act may apply for retirement under the existing retirement laws. 
This Act shall also provide retirement package as follows: Service of ten ( I O )  years or 
less, 1.25 months for every year of service, over 10 years, 1.75 months for every year of 
service. 
SEC. 21. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to defray the costs of the 
initial implementation of this Act shall be taken from the available funds of the agencies 
concerned. 
Thereafter, such sum as may be needed for its full implementation shall 
be included in the next General Appropriation Act. 
SEC. 22. Task Force. - A task force is hereby created to cause the 
implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
The task force shall consist of the 
President of the Philippine Statistical Association as Chair and the following as 
members: 
Secretary General of NSCB, Administrator of NSO, Director of BAS and 
Executive Director of SRTC. 
The task force shall be charged with the following functions: 
. 
prepare the organizational structure of Philstat and PSCSA; 


. 
prepare qualification standards for the personnel to be submitted to Civil 
Service Commission for approval; 
review the qualifications of existing personnel of NSO, NSCB, and BAS, to 
determine who will be considered to fill up the positions at Philstat and 
PSCSA 
. 
9 
prepare the reprogramming of the unspent appropriations transferred to 
Philstat and PSCSA 
determine how real properties, buildings, equipment and other capital and 
financial assets could be distributedkhared between Philstat and PSCSA 
SEC. 23. Report to Congress. -Within six months after the approval of this Act, 
the task force shall submit, for approval of the President, the Implementing Rules and 
Regulations. In the interim, and pending approval by the President on the Task force 
recommendations, the NSCB, NSO, SRTC and BAS shall continue to discharge their 
respective mandates. No personnel movement, except those scheduled for compulsory 
retirement, shall be allowed. 
Pending establishment of a national organization of professional statisticians, the 
Philippine Statistical Association, Inc. shall constitute a search committee and draw up 
at least three (3) nominees each for the position of the Chairman of Philstat and 
Administrator of PSCSA for consideration of the President. PSA tnay likewise opt to 
include in the list nominees for the posts of two associate commissioners of Philstat and 
two deputy administrators of PSCSA. 
SEC. 24. Separability. - If any part, section or provision of this Act shall be 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, no other parts, sections or provisions thereof shall 
be affected thereby. 
SEC. 25. - Repealing Clause. - Executive Order No. 121 is hereby repealed. 
All other laws, decrees, ordinances, rules, regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof 
which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 26. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved,