23 June 2025, Cotabato City — The Philippine Statistics Authority Regional Statistical Services Office in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PSA RSSO-BARMM) successfully conducted the Second Level Training on July 2025 Labor Force Survey (LFS) and 2025 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) Visit 1 from 16 to 21 June 2025 in Cotabato City. It was spearheaded by the Chief- SOCD, Edward Donald F. Eloja on behalf of the OIC Regional Director Akan G. Tula. Participants were the respective focal persons of the provinces, including its Chief Statistical Specialists and alternates Focal Persons who shall serve as trainers in the third level training with the Team Supervisors and Statistical Researchers.

In his address, Mr. Eloja emphasized the importance of the training, noting that the FIES is one of the top surveys conducted by the PSA. He expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the training and hoped that participants would gain valuable knowledge and insights.

Moreover, Ms. Marilou S. Gorospe, Statistical Specialist II, provided a comprehensive overview of the training objectives, while Ms. Sittie Hapsa D. Maganaka and Mariffie A. Ayob led in-depth sessions on the operational definitions and concepts of both surveys.

Throughout the six-day event, participants engaged in interactive sessions covering various topics crucial to the LFS and FIES. Key highlights included detailed discussions on the duties and responsibilities of field personnel, effective interviewing techniques, and practical training on using handheld devices for data entry.

This comprehensive training aimed to equip the participants with essential skills necessarily in facilitating as the trainer to the hired personnel involved during the succeeding third level trainings and operation.

The said surveys are nationwide survey of households conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in which LFS gathers data on the demographic and socio- economic characteristics of the population, while, the FIES is a survey on family income and expenditure of the sample households that will start from 08 to 31 July 2025.

Further, PSA BARMM ensures that all personnel involved in the conduct of the survey strictly adhere to the Field Operation Guidelines and health protocol. The Office guarantees that all information acquired from the survey respondents would be handled with the utmost confidentiality in accordance with Section 26 of RA 10625.

Approved for Release:

ENGR. AKAN G TULA 
OIC-Regional Director

EDFE/ALM/SHDM/SSIA