FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
10 
.JUt -6 P 1 :32 
SENATE 
S.No. 347 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine Statistical System (PSS) is a government-wide system that provides statistical 
infonnation and services to the public through a decentralized structure involving various data 
stakeholders. Its statistical organizational structure is made up of several policy-making and 
coordinating body, data producers and data providers who respond to survey instruments, and 
statistical training, education and research institutions such as Statistical Research and Training 
Center (SRTC) and the academe. 
Despite the fact that Executive Order No. 121 of January 1987, which reorganized the PSS, 
created a statistical body that has independence, objectivity, integrity, relevance and 
responsiveness, it did not provide for the separation of the planning and implementation from the 
statistical, monitoring and evaluation functions of the National Economic Development 
Authority (NEDA), thereby failing to address the structural and functional infirmity of the PSS 
that it sought to amend. 
The official statistical data from the PSS contribute to the fonnulation of policies and programs 
that address the social and economic development issues in the country. However, there have 
been a number of concerns in the past years that directly affect the quality, reliability and 
timeliness of these statistical infonnation. 
The PSS has vast potential resources and capabilities that must be utilized to provide the country 
with the information needed for national development. Such can be achieved through an efficient 
reorganization of the system. 
The proposed reorganization of the PSS under this bill includes: 
a. Structural and functional reorganization through the integration of the National Statistical 
Office (NSO), Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), Bureau of Labor and 
Employment Statistics (BLES) and the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) 
into an agency called the National Statistical Authority (NSA); 
b. Independence of the PSS from the control of NED A by mandating that the Chainnan of 
the NSA be a professional statistician called the Government Statistician, who will have 
the rank of Secretary without portfolio; and 
c. Creation of the National Civil Registration Office, which shall be attachl(d to the NSA. 
This reorganization will effect a centralization of primary data collection, negating unnecessary 
duplication of work by the different agencies concerned with statistics. The problem of 
conflicting statistics and data gaps will also be addressed by this bill. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
---r"'-"S.-AO\-N-N~,,\1~ IV 
Senator 
1 
• 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
347 
10 
JUL -6 P 1 :32 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
REORGANIZING THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICAL SYSTEM, REPEALING FOR 
THE PURPOSE EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBERED ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE 
ENTITLED 
"REORGANIZING 
AND 
STRENGTHENING 
THE 
PHILIPPINE 
STATISTICAL SYSTEM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" 
Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Statistical System 
2 
Reorganization Act of 2010". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to effect the necessary 
5 
and proper changes in the organizational and functional structures of the Philippine Statistical 
6 
System (PSS), its agencies and instrumentalities, in order to promote rationality and efficiency in 
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the delivery of statistical services, to maintain an integrated statistical system characterized by 
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independence, objectivity and integrity in order to enhance responsiveness to the requirements of 
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national development, to promote the orderly development of a statistical system capable of 
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providing timely, accurate and useful data for the government and the public, and to support 
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regionalization, and decentralization through the establishment of the infrastructure necessary to 
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service the regional statistical needs of Filipinos. 
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SEC: 3. Reorganization. - The Philippine Statistical System, hereinafter referred to as 
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the PSS, shall be organized structurally and functionally, in accordance with the provisions of 
16 
this Act. 
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SEC. 4. Philippine Statistic/II System. - The PSS shall consist of statistical organizations 
2 
at all administrative levels, the personnel therein and the national statistical program. This 
3 
includes a policy-making body, a coordinating body with primary data collection capability, a 
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statistical research and training center, and all executive departments, bureaus, offices, agencies 
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and instrumentalities of the national and local government and all government-owned or 
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controlled corporations and their subsidiaries that are engaged in statistical activities either as 
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their primary functions or as part of their administrative or regulatory functions. The PSS shall 
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remain decentralized with a strong coordination feature to be achieved through a posting of 
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trained personnel and closer linkage between statistical programming and budgeting. 
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SEC. 5. National Statistics Authority. - There shall be created a National Statistics 
12 
Authority hereinafter referred to as NSA-Board, and NSA sectoral, regional and technical 
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offices, agencies and bureaus. 
, 
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The NSA-Board shall be the highest policy-malcing and coordinating body on statistical 
15 
matters. The data produced by the NSA shall be the official and controlling statistics of the 
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government. 
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SEC. 6. NSA Powers and Functions. - The NSA shall perform the following powers 
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and function: 
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a. 
Serve as the statistical clearing house and liaison with international organizations 
21 
dealing with statistical matters; 
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b. 
Prepare and conduct periodic caucuses on population, housing, agriculture, 
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fisheries, business, industry, and on other sectors of the economy; 
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c. 
Prepare al1d conduct statistical surveys, researches and studies on all aspects of 
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socio-economic life including agriculture, industry, education, population, culture, 
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social welfare, crime, health, labor and employment, and price situations for the 
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use ofthe government and public; 
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d. 
e. 
f. 
Rationalize the collection and processing for statistical purposes, data and records 
from the different departments, bureaus, offices and agencies of the government, 
including the Civil Registration System; 
Develop and maintain appropriate frameworks for the improvement of statistical 
coordination; 
Perform other functions as may be assigned by the NSA-Board and as may be 
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
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SEC. 7. Composition of ti,e NSA Board. - The NSA-Board shall be composed of the 
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following: the Government Statistician as Chairman; a representative of the National 
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Development Authority (NEDA) and a representative of the Department of Budget and 
12 
Management (DBM), as Vice-Chairmen for Development Planning and Budget Control, 
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respectively; one representative each from the remaining departments in the national 
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government; a representative of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; the Executive Director of the 
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Statistical Research and Training Center; a representative of the Philippine Statistical 
16 
Association; and a member from the private sector to be appointed by the President of the 
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Philippines for a term of three (3) years, with reappointment, from a list of nominees submitted 
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by the other members of the Board as members. 
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In the absence or temporary incapacity of the government statistician, the representative 
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of NEDA shall be the acting Chairman. In the absence of both the government statistician and 
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the NEDA representative, the DBM representative shall be the acting Chairman. 
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S~C. 8. Meeting and CompensatiOlI. - The NSA-Board shall: 
a. 
Hold regular meetings at least once a month and may have as many special 
meetings as may be necessary on call of the Chairman or any five (5) members 
thereof; 
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b. 
Be entitled to a per diem of One Thousand Pesos (PI,OOO.OO) for actual 
attendance in meetings which shall not exceed Two Thousand Pesos (P2,OOO.OO) 
a month. 
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SEC. 9. Powers and Functions. - The NSA-Board shall have the following powers and 
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functions: 
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a. Promote and maintain an efficient statistical system in the government; 
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b. Formulate policies on all matters relating to government statistical operations; 
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c. Recommend executive and legislative measures to enhance the development and 
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efficiency of the system, including the internal structure of statistical agencies; 
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d. Establish appropriate mechanisms for statistical coordination at the regional, 
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. provincial and city levels; 
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e. Approve the Philippine Statistical Development Program; 
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f. 
Allocate statistical responsibilities among government agencies by designating the 
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statistics to be collected by them including their periodicity, timeliness and content; 
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g. Review budgetary proposals involving statistical operations and submit an integrated 
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budget for the PSS to the DBM; 
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h. Establish appropriate mechanisms for the standardization of salaries and positions 
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within the NSA; 
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1. Review and clear, prior to release, all funds for statistical operations in coordination 
21 
with the DBM; 
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j. Prescribe appropriate frameworks for the improvement of statistical coordination; 
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k. Prescribe uniform standards and classification systems in the government statistics; 
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I. Provide technical assistance and exercise supervision over major government 
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statistical activities. 
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The NSA-Board shall act on and decide matters before it by a majority vote of all its 
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members. 
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SEC. 10. Illter-agellcy Committees Oil Statistics. - The following committees shall be 
2 
created within the NSA-Board, the members of which are drawn from the membership of the 
3 
Board: 1) Committee on Agriculture, Trade and Industry Statistics, 2) Committee on 
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Infrastructure and Financial Statistics, 3) Committee on Social Statistics, and 4) Committee on 
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PSS Resources. The NSA-Board may create other inter-agency committees (lACs) to assist it in 
6 
the exercise of its functions. 
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SEC. 11. Governmellt Statisticiall. - The Government Statistician shall be the Chairman 
9 
of the NSA, with the rank of a Secretary without a portfolio, who shall be appointed by the 
10 
President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments for a term of seven (7) years 
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without reappointment, and who must be of proven integrity, probity, and competence and 
12 
recognized stature in the statistical profession. The Government Statistician shall be a natural 
13 
born citizen of the Philippines and, at the time of his appointment, at least thirty-five (35) years 
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of age. As chief executive officer, the Government Statistician shall exercise general supervision 
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and control over its technical and administrative personnel and prescribe such rules and 
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regulations as may be necessary to carry out the decisions and policies of the NSA-Board and 
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ensure the proper and effective discharge of the powers and functions of the NSA. He shall 
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likewise have the power to appoint all officials and employees ofthe Authority below the rank of 
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Assistant Government Statistician subject to civil rules and regulations. 
, 
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SEC. 12. Deputy Governmellt Statisticialls. - The Government Statistician shall be 
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assisted by three (3) Deputy Government Statisticians, with the rank of Undersecretary, to be 
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appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments: one to be 
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responsible for the Sectoral Statistics Office, one to be responsible for the Censuses and 
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Regional Operations Office and one to be responsible for the Technical Coordination and Central 
26 
Support Office. 
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SEC. 13. Assistant Government Statisticians. - The Government Statistician shall 
2 
likewise be assisted by three (3) Assistant Government Statisticians, with the rank of Assistant 
3 
Secretary, to be appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments 
4 
who shall be assigned to assist the Deputy Government Statisticians in their tasks of coordinating 
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and supervising their offices. 
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SEC. 14. Organizational Structure. - The NSA offices shall be composed of the 
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Sectoral Stati,stics Office, Censuses and Regional Operations Office, Technical Coordination and 
9 
Central Support Office, Regional Statistical Services and Provincial Statistical Offices. 
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SEC. 15. Sectoral Statistics Office. - The Sectoral Statistics Office shall provide 
12 
technical staff support to the NSA in the areas of agriculture, natural resources, agrarian reform, 
13 
mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, gas and water, energy, construction, foreign 
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and domestic trade services, science and technology, public and private finance, infrastructure, 
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public and private investment, monetary matters, population, health, nutrition, education, labor 
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and employment, social welfare, public order and justice, provide technical assistance to and 
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carry out the work program in the government offices concerned to meet their statistical 
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requirements for policy-making, planning and programming; plan and conduct surveys as may 
19 
be required, in accordance with the approved statistical calendar, and perform such other tasks as 
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may be assigned by the Government Statistician. It shall be composed of the Agriculture 
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Statistics Bureau, and Social Statistics Bureau. 
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SEC. 16. Censuses and Regional Operations Office. -
The Censuses and Regional 
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Office shall provide technical staff support to the NSA; prepare and conduct census in 
25 
accordance with the approved statistical calendar; provide technical assistance to other 
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government agencies; coordinate the activities of the Regional Statistical Services; and perform 
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such other tasks as may be assigned by the Government Statistician. It shall be composed of the 
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National Censuses Bureau, Regional Coordination Bureau, and Electronic Data Processing 
2 
Bureau. 
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SEC. 17. Regional Statistical Services. -
Regional Statistical Services (RSS) and 
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Provincial Statistical Offices (PSO) shall be established in each ofthe administrative regions and 
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provinces, respectively. The RSS and PSO shall provide technical staff support to the NSA; 
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provide technical assistance as may be required by the implementing agencies and local 
8 
governments in the regions; and perform such other tasks as may be assigned by the Government 
9 
Statistician. The RSS shall be headed by Regional Service Chiefs. The PSO shall be headed by 
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Provincial Statistics Officers, with the rank of Division Chief. 
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SEC. 18. Tecllnical Coordination and Central Support. - The Technical Coordination 
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and Central Support Office shall provide technical staff support to the NSA in the development 
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and maintenance of economic and social accounts, statistical programming and development of 
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statistical standards and classification systems; provide technical and support services to the 
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various units of the NSA in the areas of administrative services, legal services, financial 
17 
management services, cartographic services and information services, and perform such other 
18 
services as may be assigned by the Government Statistician. It shall be composed of the 
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Economic and Social Accounts Bureau, Statistical Programming and Standards Bureau, and 
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Central Support Staff. 
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SEC. 19. Statistical Researcll and Training Center. - The Statistical Research and 
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Training Center (SRTC), as created und~r Executive Order No. 121, shall be attached to the NSA 
24 
for purposes of policy coordination. The SRTC shall be headed by an Executive Director, with 
2S 
the rank of Assistant Secretary, who shall be appointed by the President with the consent of the 
26 
Commission on Appointments. 
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SEC. 20. SRTC Governing Board. - The SRTC shall have a Governing Board that shall 
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formulate policies for its management and operations. The Chairman of the NSA-Board shall be 
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the Chairman of the SRTC Governing Board, with the following as members: Dean of the 
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University of the Philippines Statistical Center; Executive Director of the Philippine Social 
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Science Council, a representative of the NEDA and the Executive Director of the SRTC as ex- . 
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officio members. The NSA-Board Chairman may appoint two representatives for m the private 
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sector of the SRTC Governing Board from among a list of nominees submitted by the Board. 
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SEC. 21. Government Contribution to the SRTC. - The SRTC shall submit for approval 
10 
of the NSA-Board an annual financial plan to support its research and training program. The 
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approved financial plan shall be the basis for determining the government contribution to finance 
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SRTC research and training activities. The same shall be included in the NSA annual 
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appropriation as "NSA contribution to SRTC" and shall be treated as distinct form the 
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Endowment Fund (as provided for in Executive Order No. 121) and shall be managed under 
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separate accounts. 
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SEC. 22. National Civil Registration Office. - There shall be created a National Civil 
18 
Registration Office (NCRO) to carry out, enforce and administer the provisions of Republic Act 
19 
No. 3753 entitled "An Act to Establish a Civil Registration System" and all other pertinent laws 
20 
on the registration of vital events. The NCRO shall be headed by the Civil Register General, with 
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the rank of Assistant Secretary, who shall be appointed by the President with the consent of the 
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Commission on Appointments. The NCRO shall be attached to the NSA for administrative 
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supervision. 
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SEC: 23. Posting of Statistical Personnel in Government Offices. - In the exercise of its 
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functions·and in accordance with the priorities set by the NSA-Board, the NSA may post teams 
27 
of its statistical personnel in other government offices to carry out the work program to be drawn 
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up in coordination with the host offices. The posted teams shall be proportional to the size and 
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needs of the said govermnent offices. Personnel posted in a government office shall be 
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supervised by the Deputy Government Statistician for Sectoral Statistics and shall render 
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fortnightly stats reports to the Office of Government Statistician. The heads of the host offices 
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shall submit periodic perfonnance evaluation reports on the posted personnel to the Govermnent 
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Statistician. 
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SEC. 24. Philippine Statistical Development Program. - The Philippine Statistical 
9 
Development Program (PSDP) shall consist of all statistical activities to be undertaken by the 
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PSS in response to the requirements of development planning and policy fonnulation. 
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SEC. 25. Abolition of Existing Government Bodies. - The National Statistics Office, the 
13 
Bureau of Agricultural Statistics of the Department of Agriculture, the bureau of Labor and 
, 
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Employment, and the National Statistical Coordination Board shall be abolished and their 
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appropriations, records, properties, and personnel shall be transferred to the NSA. 
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SEC. 26. Confidentiality of Information. - Data furnished to the NSA by any individual, 
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corporation, partnership, institution or business enterprise shall not be used in any court or in any 
19 
public office either as evidence for or against the individual, corporation, association, 
20 
partnership, institution, or business enterprise from whom such data or infonnation be divulged 
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to any other person except authorized employees of the NSA, acting in the perfonnance of their 
22 
duties; nor shall such data be published, except in the fonn of summaries or statistical tables in 
23 
which no reference to an individual, corporations, association, partnership, institution or business 
24 
enterprise shall appear. For statistical purposes, however, the NSA is authorized to publish 
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infonnation on individual corporations, associations, partnerships, institutions or business 
26 
enterprise only upon the written consent of the same. 
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SEC. 27. Funds for Reorganization. -
The amolUlt necessary for the effective 
2 
implementation of the provision of this Act shall be taken from funds available to the agencies 
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affected by Section 24 thereof. In addition to the existing appropriations of said agencies by 
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section 24; additional requirements shall be charged to the appropriations for the Compensation 
5 
and Organizational Adjustment Fund under the current General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
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Thereafter, such sum as may be needed for the continued implementation of this Act shall be 
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included in the annual GAA. 
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SEC. 28. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act is declared 
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invalid or unconstitutional, no other parts, sections or provisions thereof shall be affected 
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thereby. 
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SEC. 29. Repealing Clause. - Executive Order No. 121 and all other laws, decrees, 
14 
ordinances, rules, regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this 
15 
Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 30. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
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publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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