The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Marinduque Provincial Statistical Office (PSO) successfully conducted the January 2024 Re-designed Rice and Corn Stocks Survey: Commercial (RCSS: C), from 01 to 04 January 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.

The Re-designed RCSS: C is a monthly survey which gathers information on rice, corn grain, and corn grits stocks stored in the commercial establishments as of 6:00 AM of the first day of the reference month. The data that will be collected in this survey, together with the stocks in household and government sectors, will be used to monitor stocks situation of the food staples to ensure supply and demand equilibrium, access, and price stabilty. It also serves as inputs to the estimation and compilation of national accounts. Moreover, the survey supports the data needs of government planners, policy and decision makers, and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector particularly the National Economic and Development Authority(NEDA), National Food Authority(NFA) and Department of Agriculture (DA) and the general public.

Primarily, this re-designed RCSS:C aims to generate rice and corn stocks inventories held by the commercial sector at the national and regional levels and assess the stock levels compared with the same period in the previous year, and the previous month.

In Marinduque, there are 75 sample establishments from the forty-three selected barangays across the province, which includes Bangbangalon, Bantay, Bunganay, Caganhao, Duyay, Ihatub, Isok, Malusak, Lupac, Tugos, Tabi, Tanza, Mercado, San Miguel, and Santol in Boac, Marketsite in Mogpog, Antipolo, Bachao Ilaya, Bacongbacong, Dili, Pangi, and Barangay III in Gasan, Daykitin, Libas, Malbog, Sihi, Yook, Barangay I, Barangay II, and Barangay III in Buenavista, Buangan, Poblacion, Tigwi, Sibuyao, and Matuyatuya in Torrijos, and Bagong Silang, Balogo, Buyabod, Landy, Manlibunan, Masaguisi, Matalaba, and Napo in San Cruz. Moreover, four Statistical Researchers (SRs) were hired to conduct personal interviews with the said samples. 

In line with this, the sample establishments are enjoined to continuously support and participate in this nationwide undertaking by providing the accurate and necessary information. 

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.” 

(SGD)GEMMA N. OPIS 
Chief Statistical Specialist 

GNO/MVL