Data literacy stressed by Regional Statistics Committee

March 10, 2019 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY – The Regional Statistics Committee (RSC) emphasized the importance of the sensibility of all data generated in the region during the 2019 1st Quarter meeting in Baguio City recently.

In a statement on Thursday, March 7, Regional Statistics Committee (RSC) Chair and NEDA-CAR Regional Director Milagros Rimando said, “We have to be creative in communicating statistics”.

The RSC met to discuss the plans of the committee for 2019 and be updated on statistical development in the region, where several agencies presented reports on the program data that they regularly gather in their respective sectors, the statement said.

Decline in measles cases DOH-CAR Regional Director Amelita Pangilinan said spikes in measles cases historically occur every three years, and data showed that since the implementation of school-based immunization, measles cases have declined, the statement said.

Pangilinan also said that as of the 2nd week of February 2019, measles cases have increased 11 times from the same period in 2018 where there were 172 cases, and 100 of which are recorded in Baguio City.

Low inflation rate in the region The Annual Regional Economic Situationer (ARES) presented by Ms. Antonette Anaban of NEDA-CAR showed the consistently low inflation rate of the region where the average inflation rate was 3.8% in 2018, lower than the 2018 national average of 5.2%, the statement said.

Agricultural production suffered losses in 2018 due to super typhoons Ompong and Rosita. Only coffee production significantly increased from 1,886.17 metric tons to 2,199 metric tons, a 16.6% increase.

Corn, palay, fruits, and vegetables all decreased production in 2018. The statement also said that NEDA-CAR continues to improve in collecting data for its Annual and Quarterly Regional Economic Situational (ARES and QRES).

“We need to help each other connect all these data together as they make-up a data ecosystem”, Rimando said.

The RSC agreed to a half-day workshop on info graphics and data storytelling to better interpret and communicate data to stakeholders.

The workshop will be conducted back-to-back with the next meeting of the RSC.

MJSdelRosario/ABN