NEDA-CAR LEADS THE WEBINAR ON HEALTH STATISTICS IN DEVELOPMENT POLICY IN CELEBRATION OF THE NATIONAL STATISTICS MONTH

November 4, 2023 Community Billboard

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA CAR), in partnership with the
Cordillera Regional Statistics Committee (RSC CAR), conducted the Webinar on Health Statistics in
Development Policy on October 26, 2023. This is part of the month-long celebration of the 34th National Statistics Month (NSM), which carries the theme, “Accelerating Progress: Promoting Data and Statistics for Healthy Philippines”.

Attended by the members of the Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC CAR), local government units , and the private sector, the webinar provided an overview of the collection and utilization of health statistics in regional development planning. It also highlighted the regional health sector plan in the Cordillera Regional Development Plan (CAR RDP) 2023-2028.

In her opening remarks, Dir. Susan A. Sumbeling of NEDA CAR urged everyone to actively participate, emphasizing that the webinar will heighten their awareness on the significance of health statistics in the policymaking process and the implementation of health programs and
activities. Ms. Karen B. Lonogan of the Department of Health (DOH CHD CAR) discussed how
health statistics are collected and used for evidence-based decision-making at the regional level.

She showed how the health department collects health data and the considerations relevant to
processing the health information collected. She also presented how health statistics help in identifying priority health activities and researches and in monitoring health programs on the ground. Asst. Dir. Stephanie F. Christiansen of NEDA CAR situated health in regional
development by providing an overview of the CAR RDP and highlighting the health chapter
in the Plan.

She emphasized that the CAR RDP contains relevant strategies for boosting health, in recognition of its importance in attaining economic and social transformation for a prosperous, inclusive, and
resilient Cordillera. In particular, she presented the relevant strategies for improving the social determinants of health, enabling health-seeking behaviors, and improving the efficiency and quality of healthcare systems.

The NSM is celebrated annually every October led by the RSC CAR, a support committee of the RDC CAR with NEDA Regional Director Sumbeling serving as its Chairperson and PSA Regional Director Villafe Alibuyog as Vice-Chairperson. The webinar was live-streamed online and can be viewed through the NEDA Cordillera Administrative Region Facebook Page: https:// www. facebook. com /neda.cordillera.