Aquino declares Oct. 20 as ‘World Statistics Day’

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

In accordance with a United Nations (UN) resolution, President Benigno Aquino III has declared October 20 as “World Statistics Day.”

In the two-page Proclamation no. 1135, signed last October 1, Aquino directed national agencies and government-owned and -controlled corporations to work with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in implementing relevant activities.

“Both the National Statistics Month and the ‘World Statistics Day’ will be celebrated in October 2015 through various activities that will highlight the important role of statistics in achieving sustainable and inclusive growth and improving access to health facilities and social protection programs critical in nation-building,” Aquino said in the proclamation.

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The UN General Assembly previously declared October 20 as World Statistics Day in recognition of the importance of developing “national statistical capacity” and providing up-to-date data for policy formulation and monitoring of the Millennium Development Goals or global targets to address poverty and other issues.

This year’s theme for World Statistics Day, which is celebrated every five years since 2010, is “Better data. Better lives.”

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Since 1990, the Philippines has been celebrating National Statistics Month in October. National Statistics Month drums up public support for the improvement and enhancement of the quality and standard of statistics in the country.

In an earlier release, PSA said this year’s National Statistics Month will highlight the government’s push for universal health care and efforts to provide health and nutrition statistics. Kristine Angeli Sabillo/RAM