NSCB seeks more funds, people

MANILA, Philippines—The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) needs an annual budget of at least P300 million to meet all the statistical requirements of the government, according to secretary general Romulo A. Virola.

Following the launch of the revised and rebased system of national accounts, Virola said in a briefing that the P300 million only refers to initial estimates on the amount of financial support that the agency needs to have about 400 technical and nontechnical personnel.

“We want to be present in all regions (of the country),” Virola said.

Virola said the present budget of the NSCB is less than P100 million.

The NSCB national accounts office had 40 people in 2005 but the number has dropped to just 18 technical personnel at present, with one set to leave to pursue a scholarship, Virola said.

“We don’t want to impede their professional growth. But we will need to get additional people so that we can serve statistical requirements and even offer other valuable products like the environmental accounting,” Virola added.

The agency’s technical personnel often get offers of better-paying posts in local and multilateral agencies.