The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reminded that individuals who refuse to comply with its national population census and survey may face imprisonment and be fined P100,000.
PSA said that those who fail to cooperate with the 2024 Census of Population will be fined P100,000, as per Republic Act No. 10625 or the Philippine Statistical Act OF 2013.
It also stated that respondents are obliged to give truthful and complete answers to statistical inquiries and gather, consolidate, and analyze such data. Otherwise, respondents who fail to comply will also be fined P100,000.
This year, the PSA is sending around 70,000 enumerators nationwide to conduct its survey and consensus.
It is also merging the POPCEN with the Community-Based Monitory System (CBMS) this year, ahead of its 2025 schedule, “to optimize government resources and to avoid fatigue to respondents.”
The PSA said data collected from the 2024 POPCEN-CBMS will be used to update the country’s population inventory and the list of beneficiaries of social protection initiatives such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4PS).
It will also serve as a basis in targeting households in the planning, formulation, and implementation of programs and projects geared towards poverty alleviation.
The conduct of POPCEN-CBMS will officially begin on Monday, July 15.
How to know if the PSA enumerator is legit
The PSA told the public that a legitimate enumerator should be wearing a t-shirt with the logo of the agency and an identification card.
The front of the ID should have the owner’s picture, name, designation, and signature, as well as the signature of PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa.
Meanwhile, the back should include the owner’s contact number, address, and emergency contact, as well as the office address and contact number of the PSA Provincial Statistical Office.
The PSA noted that the enumerators should never ask for any confidential information about the respondents' bank account, such as account numbers, passwords, ATM numbers, ATM PINs, and OTPs.
They are also not allowed to solicit money or ask any material from the respondents concerning the conduct of the survey.
If an individual ever encountered such an enumerator, the PSA said they should inform the situation to their nearest agency's branch.