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PSA-Cotabato Taps USM Faculty to Deliver CBMS Training on Basic Statistics for LGUs
March 10, 2026
To support national and local statistical capacity-building initiatives, the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in support of Republic Act No. 11315 on March 4, 2026, at the Office of the President, USM, Kabacan, Cotabato.
Republic Act No. 11315, also known as the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Act, mandates the Philippine Statistics Authority to lead the collection of updated and disaggregated data by local government units (LGUs). The initiative aims to support targeted poverty reduction programs, evidence-based policy formulation, and effective monitoring of development programs.
The law also encourages the participation of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in capacity-building initiatives. In line with this, USM will assist LGUs by providing training on CBMS data collection and processing, as well as conducting workshops on data analysis and presentation.
As part of the agreement, USM will designate experts to conduct training on basic statistics and provide technical support to strengthen local statistical capabilities.
Present during the signing were PSA Region XII Director Atty. Maqtahar L. Manulon and Officer-in-Charge Chief Statistical Specialist of the Provincial Statistics Office, Norhayyah A. Tula. Representing USM were University President Dr. Jonald L. Pimentel and Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, Dr. Philip Benjamin.
