The Data Turnover Ceremony of the 2021 Pilot Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) was successfully conducted last 17 April 2023 at Baybay New City Hall, City of Baybay, Leyte. The event was participated by the Sangguniang Panglungsod Members, Division and Section Heads, PSA Central Office officials and staff, PSA Regional Statistical Services Office VIII (RSSO VIII) and PSA Leyte Provincial Statistical Office (PSO) personnel. 

Officer-in-charge Deputy National Statistician Minerva Eloisa P. Esquivias highlighted in her opening message that the ceremony marks a significant milestone for the City of Baybay. The fact that government programs and policies are matters that indispensably shape the life, status and development of the people, making the availability of CBMS data key component towards holistic governance. Furthermore, she extends her sincerest appreciation to everyone who has dedicated time and effort to contribute to this endeavor.

PSA Leyte Chief Statistical Specialist Sheryl Ann A. Jamisola presented the highlights of the 2021 Pilot CBMS Data of Baybay City which included data on basic services, safety, health facilities, education, and employment. She added that there are still more data which can be generated from the CBMS results which can be used in the of policies, plans, and programs for the improvement of the lives of the people in Baybay.

Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos L. Cari highlighted in his acceptance message that he is a believer of data. He narrated that when he was still a Barangay Chairperson, he already adopted the posting of CBMS Data Board in their barangay. Now, that CBMS data for Baybay City is in their hands, they will use these as benchmark data from where they can base their development programs that can alleviate the lives of Baybayanons. 

In behalf of City Administrator, Atty. Florante, Cayunda, Jr., Ms. Marissa M. Cano, the City Information Officer presented the plans and programs that will utilize CBMS data. She emphasized the relevance of CBMS data in the preparation of various plans being formulated by the city. Meanwhile, Atty. Eliezer P. Ambatali, Director of the Legal Service of PSA discussed Data Security as provided in the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173). He emphasized that with the data in their hands comes the responsibility as vigilant stewards of data. 

The CBMS is an organized technology-based system of collecting, processing, and validating necessary disaggregated data, that may be used for planning, program implementation, and impact monitoring at the local level while empowering communities to participate in the process. 

The implementation of CBMS nationwide is pursuant to Section 4 of the Republic Act (RA) No. 11315 or the CBMS Act, wherein the CBMS shall be established and instituted in every city and municipality as an economic and social tool towards the formulation and implementation of poverty alleviation and development programs which are specific, targeted, and responsive to the basic needs of each sector of the community. 

PSA funded the conduct of the 2021 Pilot CBMS and data collection was conducted last October 2021. As one of the pilot areas, data gathered on households and barangays were of great contribution to the institutionalization of the CBMS under RA 11315. 

PSA RSSO VIII Regional Director Wilma A. Perante officially closed the ceremony with much gratitude to the City of Baybay for its full support, dedication and hard work. She also expressed her hope that the CBMS results be cascaded to the Barangay Local Government Units (BLGUs), the foreground implementers of government programs and projects of the city.

SGD. BERNADETTE R. MONTANA 
Supervising Statistical Specialist 
Officer-in-charge