National Statistics Office (NSO) Administrator Tomas P. Africa allayed fears that this year’s Census 2000 will be used to fast-track the implementation of the controversial National ID system and the passage of Charter amendments.

Speaking before the media at the Saturday weekly forum Kapihan sa CYPRESS in Recio’s Restaurant, Quezon City, Africa said that Census 2000, which will be held this May, should not be linked to renewed government efforts to revive the National ID System.

Hindi naman talaga siya linked. In fact, ang ipapasok lang namin sa computer, iyon lang datos ng isang pamilya. Tinatanong lang namin ang pangalan at address to ensure na hindi madoble ang bilang. Hindi rin ito nilalabas ng opisina, talagang strictly confidential. Dahil mas makukulong kami kung mag-leak kami ng information na nakolekta namin, Africa said.

Africa likewise assured the public that the information given to census takers will not be used against them.

Citing Section 4 of CA no. 591, Africa said the law guarantees that any information obtained during the census shall be held strictly confidential and must not be communicated to any other person except to bona fide employees of the NSO.

Groups opposed to the National ID System have said that the National Statistics Office (NSO) and its census machinery could be used to facilitate the implementation of a national identification scheme.

They added that the population reference number generated by the National Statistics Office serve as the common reference point from which all the data about an individual can be drawn by means of electronic linkage.

Africa belied reports that this scheme was possible.

I admit that Census 2000 is the first census with fully-computerized data processing. But from our end, we will not use the technology to build a dossier of persons. Minsan may militar na nagtatanong sa amin, si ganito ba, nakatira sa ganito? Under the law, we cannot release information or data on individuals. The name is not important. The census will not be a flop if you do not give your name. It’s immaterial to what we are doing, Africa explained.

The NSO chief, however, stressed that it is important that everyone appreciates the significance of the Year 2000 Census which will be conducted for three weeks beginning May 1 of this year.

Census 2000 is crucial in the formulation of government policies, plans and programs concerning the population, education, fertility, labor and housing. It is also important in determining the proper distribution of congressional seats as well as the allocation of resources. Ang datos mula sa census ay base kung ilang eskwelahan ang gagawin sa isang munisipyo o ilang pulis ang kailangan sa isang province, he said.

Africa added that the crisis currently experienced by the Philippines as admitted by no less than President Estrada needs to be addressed immediately.

But all the plans and programs that seek to solve our country’s problems on housing, education, nutrition and employment need concrete baseline information in order to be viable. That is why the May 2000 Census is crucial. It is not the time for people to be afraid of the bogeyman, Africa added.

For his part, Social Weather Station (SWS) chief Mahar Mangahas said that the census is the ultimate instrument for measuring people’s needs.

It is definitely much more reliable than surveys. In fact, census data is used by the SWS in its study and design of small area statistics, Mangahas said.

The NSO is mandated by Commonwealth Act No. 591, Batas Pambansa Blg. 72, and Executive Order no. 121 as the sole agency to undertake a Census of Population and Housing. Batas Pambansa Blg. 72 provides, among others, that a national census of population and housing and other related data be taken every 10 years beginning 1980.

The first official census in the Philippines was carried out in 1878 by the Spanish government. It was followed by the census of 1888 and 1898. Ten censuses of population have been conducted since the turn of the 20^th century beginning in 1903. On the other hand, four censuses on housing have been undertaken since 1960.

Africa disclosed that Census 2000 has a total proposed budget of P912 million for the year 2000.

About 60,000 public school teachers will be tapped by NSO as interviewers and team supervisors to count around 75 million Filipinos. NSO field personnel shall supervise the census operations with the assistance of public school teachers and DECS officials as census area supervisors.

Everyone, from the street vendor to the Chinese businessman, all the way to the prison inmate, the NPA and the MILF – they will all be counted, Africa said.