The National Statistics Office (NSO) is asking the public’s full cooperation in the census of population and housing this May.

Conducted only once a decade, this census gathers comprehensive data about the size, composition and distribution of the Philippine population. Government planners, policy makers, and administrators use census figures as basis for socioeconomic development programs. A special population census was held in 1995, at the request of the Ramos administration, which at the time needed an up-to-date database for national and local development planning.

The census will start on May 1, and will field 44,500 enumerators, mostly public school teachers, who will go on a house-to-house and building-to-building count of the number of Filipinos living here and working abroad, as well as expatriates based in the country. The enumerators will wear official Census 2000 IDs and will carry official enumerators’ kit and other relevant materials.

NSO Administrator Tomas P. Africa said that the census was designed to pose as little inconvenience as possible for the households. It will consist of a 20- to 30-minute interview with one member of the household – the head, or spouse, or other responsible person who can answer on behalf of the head.

The interview comprises two parts. The first part asks questions regarding the individual characteristics of each members of the household such as age, sex, marital status, education, occupation, disability (if any), religion, ethnicity and fertility.

The second part takes note of the condition of the household's residence. Information about the type of building the family lives in, its mode of lighting, source of water supply, garbage disposal, home appliances and other conveniences will be asked of the respondents.

The census questionnaire is specially designed to avoid confusion regarding household members living, working or studying in another part of the country. It has very clear-cut guidelines about overseas workers, boarders, migrant workers, transient inhabitants, as well as special people in seminaries, convents, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and prisons. The interviews will be conducted among the estimated 15.3 million households in about 42 thousand barangays.

Africa said that the NSO will go about the nationwide head count systematically, and is targeting to finish it in 20 days. However, conditions in some isolated parts of the country may prolong the enumeration. He, however, estimates that the census will not exceed May 31.

To make the census more systematic and to avoid any duplication of counting, the NSO divided the country’s barangays into smaller geographical units called enumeration areas (EA). Each EA has definite boundaries and landmarks, and contains about 400 households.

The NSO staff and enumerators have already mapped the buildings and houses in each EA. During the census taking, enumerators will visit each structure to obtain information on the persons residing there.

"We hope that every household in the country lets itself be counted," Africa said. "Some sectors are hesitant and are even opposed to take part in the census. But we hope that everyone is cooperative."

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Page Last Updated: January 19, 2005