Vice President Leni Robredo speaks on the importance of data and statistics in crafting major policy and programs at the opening ceremony of the 30th National Statistics Month and the 14th National Convention of Statistics, held at Crowne Plaza Manila Hotel in Ortigas Avenue on Tuesday, October 1, 2019. (Photo from OVP)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has praised the government’s statisticians as she stressed the significance of data in the crafting of laws and strategies that would help the country grow.
Speaking at the kick-off event for the National Statistics Month in Quezon City, Robredo said statistics are the “backbone” of policy-making and decision-making of government.
“Data is the lifeblood of decision-making. It shows why people do what they do, how they see life, and how they live every day. But ultimately, the value of accurate and timely data is that they allow us – both individuals and organizations – to make informed decisions,” Robredo said.
“You don’t just do surveys, study algorithms, and manage countless datasets. You understand and interpret the meaning behind the numbers so that the public can easily understand information. So to all that you do for our people, thank you very much,” she also said.
But Robredo likewise highlighted the actions required to realize the goals of data and statistics in nation-building and economic growth.
“Data is not just about accurate data systems, it is about real lives. Our metrics should not be confined to the number of dormitories we have built or the number of our accomplishments,” the Vice President noted.
“We need to focus on the impact on the quality of life in the community, sustainability, and the number of lives transformed because of our innovations. The question we need to ask ourselves is: Is the community far better than when we first found it?” she asked.
These observations, she said, were some of the learnings they obtained while carrying out the Angat Buhay program, an anti-poverty project of the Office of the Vice President (OVP). Under Angat Buhay, OVP partners with the private sector to fund school buildings, dormitories, livelihood training, and other key materials.
READ: Leni defends Angat Buhay
According to Robredo, OVP’s partnership with 347 local and international organizations has helped over 400,000 people in more than 200 cities and municipalities nationwide.
She previously said that she intends to do the program, amid a small budget, to dismiss notions that the vice president is a mere “spare tire” who could only be useful in case the sitting president becomes incapacitated.
READ: Robredo nixes OVP’s ‘spare tire’ image, cites gains of outreach program
“This is why it is not enough to just tell the story. It is important to tell the right story to ensure that our policies, programs, and projects are responsive and effective,” she added.
The National Statistics Month is celebrated every October to remind the public about the importance of data and raise awareness on problems that statisticians face. This year’s 30th celebration also coincides with the 14th National Convention on Statistics (NCS).
NCS, which is “the biggest gathering of statisticians, practitioners, academicians, researchers, students, and media” is conducted every three years by the Philippine Statistical System. This year’s theme is about data innovation or the practice of using new and modern methods to gather and protect data. /kga