The National Statistics Office (NSO) marks tomorrow the start of the 2007 Census of Population (POPCEN 2007) which will make a complete count of all residents, both Filipinos and foreigners who have stayed in the country for at least a year. The census will last for about 25 days.

About 40,000 NSO-trained census enumerators wearing official POPCEN 2007 IDs will gather population data through house-to-house visits and personal interview of the household head or any responsible member of the household. All areas will be covered including exclusive subdivisions and condominiums. Institutional populations such as those living in hospitals, sanitaria, penitentiary, military camps, convents, and seminaries shall likewise be enumerated.

Basic information to be gathered include the number of people living within the house, their age, gender, marital status, education, and other demographic, social and economic characteristics.

"We call on the public to give accurate and sufficient information as these data shall be relevant in addressing specific requirements of the national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) especially in targeting beneficiaries of basic social services," says NSO Administrator Carmelita N. Ericta.

She also assured every household that all information obtained during enumeration shall be held strictly confidential as provided by Section 4 of Commonwealth Act No. 591.

The population count by province, city, municipality, and barangay shall be released on February 28, 2008. The final count shall be considered official for all purposes upon proclamation by the President of the Philippines.

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