The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Marinduque Provincial Statistical Office (PSO) successfully conducted the First Quarter 2024 Aquaculture Fisheries Survey (QAQS), from 13 to 17 March 2024. The PSA's authority and mandate to conduct this survey emanates from Republic Act (RA) 10625, or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013, which authorizes the PSA to prepare and conduct surveys and periodic censuses on various sectors of the economy.

Aquaculture is one of the fisheries subsectors, that involves propagation and culturing of fish and other fishery species in farming facilities such as fishpond, fish pen and fish cage. It also includes oyster, mussel and seaweeds culture. The Quarterly Aquaculture Survey (QAqS) serves as the activity that gathers information on volume and price of species harvested in aquafarms.

In Marinduque, there are 70 sample aquafarms located in the municipalities of Boac, Gasan, Mogpog, Santa Cruz and Torrijos. The sampling frame used for the re-designed QAqS was the result of Updating of List of Aquaculture Farms (ULAF) conducted last 2017. It contains information about the aquafarm such as name and address of the operator, aquafarm type, water environment, culture system, management system, ownership status, area, species cultured and location of farm. Accordingly, two (2) Statistical Researchers (SRs) were hired to conduct personal interviews with the said samples.

In this regard, the sample aquafarm owners/operators are encouraged to participate in this nationwide undertaking by providing the necessary and accurate information. 

PSA assures that SRs will continue to strictly adhere to proper health protocols when dealing with respondents.

Pursuant to Section 19 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10173, known as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012,” all information that will be gathered will be treated with utmost confidentiality. Further, Section 26 of RA No. 10625 also stipulates that “individual data furnished by a respondent to statistical inquiries, surveys, and censuses conducted by the PSA shall be considered privileged communication and as such shall be inadmissible as evidence in any proceeding.” 

For further questions or clarification, please reach us via email at marinduque@psa.gov.ph.Alternatively, you can also reach us via our landline numbers: (042)332-0848 or (042)754-0024.

(SGD)GEMMA N. OPIS
Chief Statistical Specialist

GNO/MVL