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55 Statistical Researchers complete intensive training on income, expenses survey
KALIBO, Aklan- Fifty-five statistical researchers hired by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Aklan have completed a seven-day intensive training for the 2025 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) Visit 1 and the July 2025 Labor Force Survey.
The training was held from June 30 to July 6, 2025, at Royal Suite Condotel in Kalibo.
The activity aims to equip the researchers with the necessary knowledge and skills to collect accurate and reliable data from selected sample households during interviews.
Five PSA-Aklan personnel who are adept at conducting the survey served as resource persons, namely, Rodelyn Panadero, Supervising Statistical Specialist; Peter Mangilog, Senior Statistical Specialist; Alyssa Mae Berlandino, Statistical Specialist II; Reyna Silverio, Assistant Statistician; and Robertly Invina, Administrative Aide.
During the activity, the participants were taught about the concepts and definitions used in the surveys, the data items included in the questionnaires and how to gather them, interview techniques, their duties and responsibilities, and the proper use of tablets for recording responses.
Likewise, they were trained on how to scrutinize the respondents’ answers for consistency and reliability.
To help them become familiar with administering the survey questions, they were given exercises to practice and apply the lessons taught during the training.
They were also reminded to strictly uphold the confidentiality of the information provided by the respondents, and were informed of the penalties should they violate these disclosure rules.
According to Engr. Antonet Catubuan, Chief Statistical Specialist of PSA-Aklan, the FIES training was one of the longest among PSA’s surveys due to the large amount of information that needs to be gathered on income, expenditures, and housing characteristics of the sample families.
“We need to ensure that these data collectors are highly knowledgeable about the survey and well-equipped with the right skills so that data quality will not be compromised,” Engr. Catubuan said.
She revealed that the FIES is one of the most challenging statistical undertakings of PSA because it requires extensive computation to balance the income and expenditures of each family.
“The FIES is similar to business accounting, except that in this survey, not all receipts are considered income, and not all disbursements are considered expenditures,” she explained.
“We have to identify the items that are considered income and expenditures for personal consumption so that we can determine the cash position of the family,” she added.
Data from the FIES is used, among others, to measure poverty, assess living conditions across different population segments, analyze regional and socio-economic disparities, and estimate household accounts in the System of National Accounts and Balance of Payments.
The trained statistical researchers will be deployed to their assigned areas to cover a total of 87 sample barangays in Aklan starting July 8, 2025.
During the culmination of the activity, each participant was given a certificate of participation, and those who stood out were given awards in appreciation of their active involvement in the training.
