From left- DPO Emil Torregosa, CSS Maria Dulce C. Padayao of PSA-Camarines Norte PSO, Municipal Mayor Alexander L. Pajarillo of LGU-Mercedes, RD Cynthia L. Perdiz, SOCD Chief Danilo V. Luceña of PSA-RSSO V, MPDC Macario B. Totanes and Vice-Mayor Jeana T. Yapyuco during the ceremonial data turnover for 2022 CBMS.

 ^{[Left image- Hon. Mayor Alexander L. Pajarillo of LGU-Mercedes and PSA Region V Officials carefully read the stipulations during the signing of the Data Turnover Agreement] [Right image– RD Cynthia L. Perdiz presenting the Highlights of the 2022 CBMS Results for LGU-Mercedes.]}  

On 23 October 2023; Mercedes, Camarines Norte – Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Camarines Norte Provincial Statistical Office (PSO) successfully conducted the first Data Turnover Ceremony for the 2022 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) in Bicol Region for the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Mercedes, Camarines Norte. The ceremony was graced by the esteemed officials of the said LGU including Municipal Mayor Alexander L. Pajarillo, Vice-Mayor Jeana T. Yapyuco and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan including the dynamic team of the Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) headed by Macario B. Totanes, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, with LGU-CBMS Core Team, representatives from the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) of Camarines Norte and from the Department of Interior and Local Government V.

The event serves as venue to present the highlights of 2022 CBMS for Mercedes, Camarines Norte, as a result of the extensive data collection conducted last 17 October to 5 December 2022 that covered 26 barangays, 12,447 responding households summing up to 53,082 population, followed by the conduct of accurate data processing from 6 February to 5 April 2023. This also serves as an opportunity for them to discuss the future plans and programs of LGU using CBMS data. These highlights were clearly presented by Regional Director Cynthia L. Perdiz, CESO V of PSA-Regional Statistical Services Office (RSSO) V that envisions a data driven local governance for LGU-Mercedes.

RD Cynthia L. Perdiz with Chief Statistical Specialist (CSS) Danilo V. Luceña of PSA-RSSO V and CSS Maria Dulce C. Padayao of PSA-Camarines Norte PSO led the Ceremonial Data Turnover by relinquishing a flash drive containing the 2022 CBMS data (symbolizing data transfer), to Mayor Alexander L. Pajarillo and officials of LGU-San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte. The transferred data is now to be safekept by the said LGU deploying the appropriate security protection pursuant to the Data Privacy Act of 2012 as stipulated in the Data Turnover Agreement signed by the relevant parties during the ceremonial signing ceremony prior the turnover.

Further, it has to be noted that CBMS refers to an organized technology-based system of collecting, processing, and validating necessary disaggregated data. The generated data from CBMS will serve as a vital source for a sustainable local government for Mercedes, Camarines Norte, enabling them with an evidence-based decision-making, inclusive and comprehensive planning, and lead them in targeting programs that is primarily designed to the address the needs of their community. This only affirms the official tagline of the 2022 CBMS: “Swak na Datos para sa Komunidad na Mas Maayos.”