Lingayen – The National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration in Pangasinan which focused on the significant role of statistics in the implementation of the provincial government’s health care programs and services will culminate on October 30, Friday, with the staging of NSM Provincial Awarding and Closing Ceremony at the Sison Auditorium, here.

Hundreds of stakeholders, including national government agencies (NGAs), non-government sectors (NGOs), private business sectors (PBSs), local government units (LGUs) and schools in the province from elementary to tertiary levels are expected to participate in the culmination activities.

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. along with Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and Board Member Napoleon Fontelera, Jr, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Health will lead the awarding of trophies and cash prizes to winners of various statistical contests and the search for most statistically-developed city and municipal LGUs.

The provincial NSM celebration kicked off last October 5 during the regular flag-raising ceremony of the provincial government held at the Capitol Complex where Provincial Health Officer Anna Ma. Teresa De Guzman, chairperson of this year’s event, bared that the celebration highlights the province’s commitment to level up health programs through the aid of statistics.

This year’s NSM theme is: “Maximize and Use Statistics Towards Expanding Health Care Opportunities” (Pagyamanin at Gamitin and Estadistika, Kalusugan Para saLahat ay Abot-Kamay Na).

Meanwhile, NSM regional culminating activity will be held on October 29, Thursday at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) regional office in San Fernando City, La Union.

The regional activity enjoining provincial governments of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan will highlight the launching of the declaration of civil registration and vital statistics (CVRS) decade, and the presentation of the results of the 2013 functional literacy, education and mass media survey (FLEMMS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Provincial winners of jingle making contest in secondary and tertiary levels will also vie for the regional title on said day before the awarding program of winners in other regional contests and the search for best NSM province for 2015.

/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca