CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in partnership with the Provincial Government of Pampanga spearheaded the 2025 Provincial Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Convention and Data Festival, emphasizing the vital role of accurate and updated data in crafting inclusive and evidence-based policies for local development.
The event convened planning and development officers, data managers, and representatives from local government units and national government agencies to highlight the importance of community-level data in addressing the needs of every city, municipality, and barangay.
PSA Regional Director Arlene M. Divino explained that the convention was held at the provincial level to give local officials a deeper understanding of how CBMS can be utilized in policy formulation and program implementation.
“We chose to conduct the first CBMS Provincial Convention and Data Festival in every province so we can better understand the importance of CBMS, especially to our local government units,” Divino said.
She added that the CBMS, which was piloted in 2022, is now fully funded by the national government to support all municipalities, ensuring that every local government has access to updated socioeconomic data.
“CBMS differs from our usual statistics because after each conduct, the data is turned over to LGUs so they can use it for planning and identifying beneficiaries. It’s not just about how many, but who and where they are,” Divino explained.
According to Divino, the CBMS serves as a critical foundation for identifying priority beneficiaries of social protection programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
The data gathered will also guide national agencies like the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development and the Department of Social Welfare and Development in developing models that optimize limited government resources.
“With the data from CBMS, we can identify who should be the priority beneficiaries and ensure that government programs truly reach those who need them most,” she added.
Divino emphasized that the CBMS represents more than just a data collection initiative—it is a strategic tool for promoting transparency, accountability, and data-driven governance.
By empowering LGUs with reliable community data, she furthered that the government ensures that every policy and program is grounded in real, measurable needs of the people. (MJSC/MAGP, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
