Newly-minted Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. on Monday bared the restoration of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) to improve the accuracy of data, and by extension policy making, at the agency.
“Our data is not so accurate – I’m not blaming anyone on this but one of the major things I want to start is bring back Bureau of Agricultural Statistics so we will have accurate data. I am not pro-importation, I am pro-production,” Laurel said in briefing reporters in Quezon City on Monday.
He declared himself a producer in his past life and that while he imports, “I produce a lot more.”
“I believe Filipinos can produce more but then, we have to import when it is really needed. But if we need to have the right balance, we have to have the right data to manage it properly,” Laurel said.
The broad plan, he continued, should help government efforts to boost domestic production.
Arnel de Mesa, DA assistant secretary for operations, said the BAS had been devolved to local government units (LGUs) and that its data is sourced from a mix of LGUs, regional field offices, the Philippine Statistics Authority and from institutional stakeholders.
He said the BAS was merged in 2013 with the National Statistics Office (NSO) together with the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) and the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) into the Philippine Statistics Authority through the Philippine Statistical Act.
The BAS was first created under Executive Order 116 signed by former President Corazon Aquino in 1987 to collect, compile, analyze and disseminate fishery statistics in addition to crops, livestock and poultry.
Apart from the planned restoration, Laurel is also keen on tapping expert consultants from the private sector as he begins his term.
“As for the current team, I plan to work with them and then assess. It will depend on their performance. If the current team performs, then good. If they don’t perform, then sorry,” Laurel said.
