Starting July 15, you may soon see enumerators from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) knocking on your door to collect details about you and your family for the 2024 Census of Population and the Community-Based Monitoring System (POPCEN-CBMS).
The POPCEN census has been conducted for decades, but the CBMS is a relatively newer initiative. The CBMS refers to an organized, technology-based system of collecting, processing, and validating disaggregated data that can be used for community-level planning, program implementation, and impact monitoring.
While the POPCEN census is mandatory, participation in the CBMS is voluntary.
For this effort, the PSA will be deploying 70,000 enumerators to collect data at the local level, focusing on households. The information gathered will serve as a basis for government programs aimed at poverty alleviation and economic development.
Local governments can use the CBMS data for evidence-based policymaking and program implementation. The data can also help national government agencies update their registries to better target beneficiaries of social protection programs.
While this may sound like a positive initiative, having someone claiming to be a government worker trying to obtain your personal details might make you feel uneasy, especially if you’re unsure whether they are a legitimate enumerator.
Fortunately, the PSA has provided some tips to help you identify a genuine enumerator.
How to spot a legitimate PSA enumerator?
- Outfit Check
A legitimate enumerator must be wearing their proper uniform. (Blue PSA produced shirts and PSA-issued I.D. with lace).
2. I.D. check
The enumerator must be wearing the PSA-issued I.D.
3. Background check
When an enumerator knocks on your door wearing the proper uniform but still looks suspicious, you may call the PSA regional office where you are located and do a background check. Contact numbers of PSA regional offices can be accessed through this link: https://psa.gov.ph/directory.
Anti-scam tips:
Some reminders from the PSA to prevent scams during data collection:
- Legitimate enumerators will not ask for the respondent’s personal financial or bank details (e.g. bank account number, passwords, ATM pin, and OTP)
- Legitimate enumerators will not ask for solicitations
- Finally, legitimate enumerators will not offer products and/or services in exchange for money.
