26 June 2023— COTABATO CITY. The Philippine Statistics Authority of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PSA BARMM) successfully conducted its Second Level Training on the 2023 Updating List of Aquaculture Farms (2023 ULAF) from 19 - 23 June 2023 at Board Room, Em Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Cotabato City. Participants were the regional and provincial staff involved in the ULAF activity, together with their Chief Statistical Specialists. The said activity provided knowledge to the Focal Persons in preparation for the conduct of the said statistical activity, which aims to collect data and the status of all aquaculture farms in the region with the use of the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system installed in Android Tablets.

The PSA is currently engaged in improving the conduct of aquaculture surveys in the country and sampling frame updating is necessary to keep up with the fast-changing aquaculture sector prior to the implementation of the redesigned surveys.

The Field Operation will start on 10 July and will last until 12 August 2023. A total of 184 hired Statistical Researchers (SRs) will be deployed region-wide during the enumeration. The office strongly encourages its stakeholders, partner agencies, and the local government units (LGUs) for their usual support and cooperation to bolster the conduct of this activity. Sample aquafarm operators are also urged to fully cooperate, and actively participate in this endeavor by providing
accurate information.

Furthermore, the PSA BARMM ensures that all personnel involved in the conduct of the survey would strictly adhere to the Field Operation Guidelines and health protocol. And that the Office guarantees that all information acquired from the survey respondents would be handled with utmost confidentiality in accordance with Section 26 of the Philippine Statistical Act (RA 10625) and the Data Privacy Act (RA 10173).

ENGR. AKAN G. TULA
OIC-Regional Director