31 January 2024-GUIMARAS. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)- Guimaras Provincial Statistical Office has covered 97.4% of its provincial targets (748 of 768 sample Households) for the January 2024 Round Labor Force Survey (LFS) and the 2023 Family Income and Expenditure Survey 1st visit (FIES-V2).

The 768 pre-identified sample households (HHs) were from the 48 Enumeration Areas (EAs) covering 38 barangays from the five municipalities: 201 HHs in Buenavista, 108 HHs in Jordan, 136 HHs in Nueva Valencia, 223 HHs in San Lorenzo, and 100 HHs in Sibunag.

The Brgys in Buenavista with sample households were: Agsanayan (21HHs), Avila (21HHs), Getulio (16HHs), New Poblacion (25HHs), Piña (6HHS), San Isidro (16HHs), San Miguel (14HHs), San Roque (18HHs), Sawang (10HHs), Supang (10HHs), Tanag (17HHs), Tastasan (14HHs) and Tinadtaran (13 HHs).

In the Municipality of Jordan, the chosen sample HHs were from the barangays of Espinosa (17HHs), Hoskyn (19HHs), Morobuan (8HHs), Poblacion (31HHs), San Miguel (15HHs) and 18 HHs each in Sta. Teresa.

Calaya (48HHs), Dolores (15HHs), Igdarapdap (16HHs), Napandong (22 HHs), Poblacion (18HHs)  
and (17HHs) for Salvacion in Nueva Valencia Municipality.

Other sample HHs were from the barangays of San Lorenzo: Aguilar (22HHs), Cabungahan  
(20HHs), Cabano (33HHs), Constancia (46HHs), Gaban (14HHs), Igcawayan (12HHs), M. 
Chavez (14HHs), San Enrique (40HHs) and Sebario (22HHs).

Ravina (16HHs), Sabang (17HHs), San Isidro (41HHs), and Sebaste (26HHs) were the barangays 
covered in Sibunag.

“The LFS is a nationwide quarterly survey of households conducted by the PSA to gather data on  
the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population and collection data on labor and employment,” Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare

Losare also explained that the LFS aimed at providing a quantitative framework for the preparation  
of plans and policies affecting the labor market.

The 2024 January round LFS which started on January 10, 2024, was conducted by the PSA as mandated by Republic Act (RA) 10625, otherwise known as the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013. Article 6, Rule 5 of the said RA, the PSA is mandated to prepare and conduct statistical sample surveys on all aspects of socio-economic life, including agriculture, industry, trade, finance, prices, and marketing information, income and expenditure, education, health, culture, and social situations for the use of the government and the public.

The 2023 FIES V2 is a rider questionnaire of the 2024 January round LFS, which aims to gather data on the income distribution and levels of living and spending patterns of Filipino families across the country.

“This 2023 FIES V2 is the second visit of the 2023 FIES to gather data specifically on the income and expenditures of families for the second semester of 2023 (July-December 2023),” Losare said.

PSO Losare also explained that the PSA Statistical Researchers (SRs) will undertake the surveys in two modes: through a phone interview and a face-to-face interview using Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI).

Moreover, PSO Losare is thankful to all sample households for their support and cooperation in providing accurate and reliable data to the hired SRs of the PSA.

“All information collected by the hired Statistical Researchers from the sample households are kept strictly confidential and shall not be used for purposes of taxation, investigation or regulation as provided under Article 55 of Republic Act 10625, but will be used solely as a reference on the levels and trends of employment, unemployment, and underemployment of the province,” Losare said.