BUTUAN CITY — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – Agusan del Norte Provincial Statistical Office has called on government agencies, local government units, academic institutions, and the private sector across Butuan City and the province to actively participate in the 37th National Statistics Month (NSM) this October 2026. Anchored on the theme “Tuklas Pilipinas: Statistics as Beacon Towards Inclusive, Resilient, and Sustainable Tourism,” the celebration highlights the crucial role of statistics in empowering data-driven insights that gear the tourism sector toward more inclusive, resilient, and community-centered development.
A Month of Awareness and Appreciation for Statistics
Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647, the NSM is observed every October nationwide to promote and instill awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics to different sectors of society, and to elicit the cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standard of statistics in the country. The PSA has issued Memorandum Circular No. 2026-07, enjoining all government agencies, LGUs, academic institutions, state universities and colleges, and the private sector to actively participate in and support the celebration, including the display of the 37th NSM streamer in their building façades throughout October. The opening and closing ceremonies will be hosted by the Department of Tourism and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, respectively.
Butuan’s Role in Promoting Statistical Awareness
In Butuan City and across Agusan del Norte, the PSA Provincial Statistical Office has been at the forefront of promoting statistical awareness through activities that engage the community. The province has previously hosted events such as the Digital Data Cartooning Contest, which brought together talented students from various schools across Agusan del Norte and Butuan City to creatively illustrate the power of data in driving sustainable development through art. These initiatives reflect the continuing effort to bring official statistics closer to the people and encourage greater appreciation and responsible use of data in planning and decision-making.
Why Statistics Matter for Tourism and the Community
The 37th NSM theme recognizes tourism as an important contributor to economic development and community well-being while emphasizing the need for evidence-based approaches to make tourism more inclusive, resilient to emerging challenges, and environmentally and socially sustainable. For Butuan City and the Caraga Region, reliable statistics serve as a beacon, providing direction, supporting sound planning, and helping stakeholders understand where the community is today and where it can move forward. Through collective participation, the PSA hopes to strengthen a culture of data use and appreciation, where statistics are not merely numbers but valuable tools for understanding communities, guiding policies, improving programs, and building a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future.
