The National Statistics Office has announced that it will implement the provision of Batas Pambansa Blg. 72 or the Census Law which will punish any respondent who unjustifiably refuses to furnish the information called for in the census questionnaire by a fine of not more than five hundred pesos or by imprisonment of not more than three months, or both.

The NSO has received verbal reports from its area supervisors that there have been some residents in Makati, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, San Juan and Manila living in exclusive villages, and in condominiums, and townhouses who have refused to cooperate in the census and even berate the teacher enumerators. Administrator Tomas P. Africa has urged the concerned teachers to file their reports with the NSO so that the appropriate charges can be filed.

Africa said that while the well-off sectors in society may have less need for government in their daily lives, special concerns among others of traffic and fire protection still affect them. Without them being counted, road capacities can be underestimated and the option of using subdivision roads for public use will resurface again. Moreover, their cities and municipalities can continue to put off purchasing equipment which will be able to fight fire in high rise buildings where many of them reside.

This attitude is in stark contrast to that of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Lanao del Sur which has asked the President to effect a cessation of hostilities to ensure an accurate count in their province.