Various stakeholders from Bangsamoro Government participate in a motorcade on October 3, 2023, led by the PSA-BARMM, to mark the kick-off of the 34th National Statistics Month celebration in the region. (Faisal Camsa Jr./BIO)
COTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Government commences the 34th National Statistics Month celebration with a focus on the significance of data statistics in advancing healthcare in the region.
On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-BARMM) officially kicked off the celebration of National Statistics Month (NSM) through a motorcade event from People’s Palace grounds to the PSA-BARMM new office at this city’s Notre Dame Avenue.
The event was in collaboration with the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) and Ministry of Health (MOH), along with the esteemed participation of Regional Statistics Committee members from different ministries, offices, and agencies of the Bangsamoro government including Civil Society Organizations.
This year’s celebration, the NSM carries the theme: “Accelerating Progress: Promoting Data and Statistics for Healthy Philippines”.
It emphasizes the importance of data and statistics in enhancing health outcomes and the appreciation of the importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of society with the use of quality health and health-related statistics.
PSA-BARMM OIC Regional Director Engr. Akan Tula emphasized that statistics are not just numbers but the heartbeat of progress by fostering data-driven decision-making.
“In our collective pursuit of a healthier and more prosperous BARMM, let us harness the power of data as our guiding star,” Tula said.
“We can accelerate our region on our journey towards a thriving Bangsamoro region by embracing the power of data in illuminating the path to progress,” he added.
MOH Minister Dr. Rizaldy Piang, in a statement read by Ms. Daisy Jane Usman, mentioned that by harnessing the power of data, we can design more effective healthcare interventions, allocate more efficiently, and develop personalized treatment that can transform the lives of the Bangsamoro people.
“Data-driven innovation is not just a tool, it’s a beacon of hope for patients, a source of inspiration for healthcare professionals, and a driver of progress for society as a whole,” Piang said.
Since the celebration focused primarily on health outcomes, the MOH Minister encouraged the public to champion the cause of data statistics in promoting health stressing, “Let us invest in data infrastructure, foster collaboration across disciplines, and advocate for policies that prioritize data transparency, and accessibility.”
“Together, we can turn data into a force for good, accelerating our journey toward a healthier, more resilient, and equitable Bangsamoro region,” Dr. Piang added.
The health minister also assured the Bangsamoro people to continue promoting, protecting, preserving, and restoring the health of the Bangsamoro and pursuing the agenda on social protection and universal healthcare to mitigate vulnerability to economic, social, and environmental concerns and improve equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare.
Meanwhile, throughout the month of October, PSA-BARMM announced a series of activities, forums, and discussions designed to promote statistical activities aimed to raise awareness of the great importance of data-driven decision-making, showcasing the exemplary contributions of data towards our nation’s sustainable growth and development.
Maguindanao OIC Chief Statistical Specialist Mr. Naldo Pendaliday mentioned that even in the old years, statistics played a vital role in developing the state and good governance.
“Statistics is an essential part of development work through logical measurable strategies, we crunch the numbers and information to form a sense of day-to-day realities,” Pendaliday said.
Moreover, BPDA Deputy Director-General Engr. Amil Abubakar recognized the significant role of reliable data and statistics in every successful planning and programming in decision-making.
“Through this timely and reliable data statistics, we get the efficacy of our initiatives, pinpoint our strength, and identify areas that need to improve,” Abubakar said.
He further said, “These numbers also allows us to measure our growth, anticipate our future challenges, and recalibrate our strategy to meet the evolving needs of our constituents.” (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO)
