2010 census extended for one more week

CEBU, Philippines - The national census on population and housing is being extended for a week after the National Statistics Office failed to beat its deadline this week.

“Naa pa balikonon ang atong mga enumerators naa pa wala nahuman og mga 85% to 90% na ang nahuman og gamay na lang ang kulang sa Central Visayas,” said Noel Rafols, public information officer of NSO Central Visayas.

Rafols was in Manila for the Task Force Training on Census Manual Processing.

Rafols also appealed to the public to be extra patient when enumerators go to their residences to gather data. Pertinent data needed in the census include the name of the head of the family, religious affiliation, appliances in the house, occupation, and highest level of education attained by residents.

Likewise, Rafols is calling on local government officials to also extend the necessary support to NSO by safeguarding the welfare of enumerators.

The census of housing and population formally commenced nationwide last May 17 and is supposed to wind up last June 11.

The CPH is a very important statistical data, as it will provide government planners, policy makers and administrators with data on which to base their social and economic development plans and programs. The data is also made basis for Internal Revenue Allotment for LGU’s.

Each census area supervisor is entitled to a P15,175 honorarium while area supervisors and enumerators are entitled to P13,050 and P11,550 honorarium, respectively.

In addition, each DepEd employee involved in the 2010 CPH is also entitled to a one day service or leave credits for each day that he renders for the said census.

NSO will also reimburse whatever medical expenses each CPH implementer will incur, due to untoward incident or accident they will encounter while conducting the survey.

Aside from the teachers, the NSO-7 also hired other enumerators who can continue with the census as school starts for teachers. — THE FREEMAN