CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) urged stronger support for its data collection efforts, saying timely and accurate economic information depends on the cooperation of businesses, government agencies, and local partners

Speaking at the Regional Respondents’ Forum for the 2025 Quarterly Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (QSPBI) on Nov. 14 at N Hotel in this city, PSA Supervising Statistical Specialist Desiree Robles said data and statistics shape how the country measures its economic performance and how leaders make decisions affecting jobs, income, and public spending.

“We need data, we need statistics, we need economic accounts for the evidence-based decisions towards welfare. This may be on jobs, income, consumption, investment, savings, or any other decisions related to welfare,” she said.

Robles said the PSA relies on a wide network of data partners because information comes from different sources and agencies using varied forms and methodologies. Much of the data used in national accounts, she noted, comes from government operations and private industries.

At the center of these efforts is the QSPBI, which Robles described as the most important source of timely indicators for the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The survey tracks revenue and other performance data from key establishments across regions.

“In many industries, revenue data from the QSPBI serves as a primary indicator for the national accounts compiled each quarter. In addition, as these include key establishments, it can also provide an indication of the performance of the industries in the regions and provinces, which can form part of the annual release of the GDP of the 18 areas and, most recently, the newest and important addition to PSA accounts, the Provincial Product Accounts or the PPA,” she said.

Robles explained that GDP—the total value of goods and services produced in the Philippines—remains the most widely used measure of economic health and plays a major role in how policymakers and investors assess conditions.

Brenda Lynn M. Castro, supervising statistical specialist at PSA in northern Mindanao, emphasized that QSPBI is one of the agency’s most critical statistical activities. She said the survey generates data for the Quarterly National Accounts of the Philippines, which provide regular updates on the country’s economic direction.

According to her, the figures help guide decisions made by government leaders, planners, and the business sector, particularly in areas tied to growth and development.

Castro also stressed that continued cooperation from businesses and agencies is essential to maintain reliable economic data.

“This cooperation and participation play a crucial role in ensuring that our economic indicators are accurate, credible, and reflective of the real situation on the ground. The respondents’ forum aims to highlight the importance of this participation, strengthening our partnership with the business community, and ensuring that our surveys remain responsive and efficient,” she said. (Apipa Bagumbaran/PIA-10)