In line with the celebration of the 36th National Statistics Month (NSM) this October 2025, with the theme “Accelerating the SDG Pace of Progress: Mobilizing Data for All”, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announces the opening of nominations for the 36th National Statistics Month (NSM) Awards.

The awards are given to acknowledge the outstanding participation of government agencies, regional offices, private sector, youth organizations, and local government units in the NSM celebration and to further encourage them to be more active in their involvement in the observance of future NSM celebrations.

For this year, the five categories open for nominations are as follows:

1. Best Statistical Activity Conducted by a Government Organization
2. Best Statistical Activity Conducted by a Private Organization
3. Best NSM Region
4. Best Youth Group Advocate for Statistics
5. Best Local Government Unit Advocate for Statistics

Nominations for the awards and supporting documents will be accepted not later than 29 August 2025. For NSM Awards for categories 1, 2, and 3, applications or nominations must be course through our office, PSA RSSO IV-A.

Kindly submit not later than August 25, 2025 for further review and checking before we submit it to the PSA Central Office within five working days after receipt .

On the other hand, for categories 4 and 5, kindly copy furnish our office of your submission for the monitoring of entries from the CALABARZON region. For your submission of entries and other concerns, our official email is [email protected]. Also, please cc [email protected].

For nomination forms and further details, e.g., mechanics, criteria, and requirements for the 36th NSM Awards, visit https://psa.gov.ph/content/36th-nsm-awards.

For inquiries, contact Ms. Lou Darlence O. Mitra or Ms. Shiela N. Eje of PSA RSSO IV-A using the contact details below, or reach the 36th NSM Secretariat at [email protected]; [email protected].

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday honored the late chef Margarita “Gaita” Forés for elevating Filipino cuisine to global recognition, proving it can stand alongside the world’s best.

President Marcos said at the posthumous awarding that “Gaita reimagined Italian cuisine by giving it a Filipino heart. She started as a chef and that she just wanted to cook, and was actually bringing Italian food to the Philippines. But she managed to go far beyond that.”

The President also recalled how Chef Forés left a lasting impression not just through her culinary skills, but also through the unforgettable dining experiences she created. He said Forés succeeded in fusing Filipino and Italian culinary sensibilities and championed the message that Filipino cuisine is world-class.

“When she would make a meal for you, of course, the food was excellent, the food was brilliant, but it was an experience. It was something that you remember. And say, ‘You know I had dinner in this place and the food was prepared by Gaita Forés.’ And it made a change, kicked up the experience to something far from ordinary,” the President said.

The Chief Executive recalled dining with his family in 2016 at a top restaurant in San Sebastian when a chef rushed out, excitedly asking, “Did you hear? Did you hear?”

“And Liza and I were saying, ‘What are they talking about?’ Your chef Margarita Forés is now the Best Asia Female Chef in 2016,” the President beamed with pride, and the audience applauded.

That moment, President Marcos said, filled them with pride—proof of how far Filipino culinary artistry had come. “She gave us something so beautiful and something that we could call our own,” he said.

Forés passed away on February 11, 2025, but her legacy lives on in the meals she crafted and how she inspired a generation of Filipino chefs to dream beyond borders.

President Marcos described Forés as someone driven not by fame or accolades, but by passion. “She just wanted to make the food better…It wasn’t about being famous. She just loved cooking.”

“And that, I think, is her achievement: to show that Filipino food is just as good as yours, and we can actually fuse them,” the President said. |PND 

By BSP

 The April 2025 inflation outturn is within the BSP’s forecast range of 1.3 to 2.1 percent. The latest inflation outturn is consistent with the BSP’s assessment of manageable inflation environment over the policy horizon with the downward revision in baseline inflation forecasts, aided primarily by the continued easing of commodity price pressures.

The risks to the inflation outlook also continue to be broadly balanced for 2025 to 2027. Upside pressures come from possible increases in transport charges, meat prices, and utility rates. Meanwhile, downside risks are linked to the continuing effects of lower tariffs on rice imports and the expected impact of weaker global demand.

The Monetary Board noted the more challenging external environment, which would dampen global GDP growth and pose a downside risk to domestic economic activity.

On balance, the more manageable inflation outlook and the downside risks to growth allow for a shift toward a more accommodative monetary policy stance.

Looking ahead, the BSP will continue to take a measured approach in deciding on further monetary easing. The BSP will remain data-dependent in its pursuit of price stability conducive to sustainable economic growth and employment.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 26-27, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Monday.

“Asahan niyo po … a-attend po ang ating Pangulo sa nasabing ASEAN Summit,” Castro said. 

President Marcos and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim spoke on the telephone on Friday evening, exchanging views on regional economic and security challenges.

President Marcos expressed optimism about continuing dialogue with fellow leaders of the ASEAN during the high-level regional gathering later this month.

“Inaasahan kong maipagpapatuloy ang mga talakayang ito, kasama ang iba pa nating mga kasamang lider sa summit sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ngayong buwan,” President Marcos said in a Facebook post over the weekend.

Castro said that the Malaysian prime minister extended his well wishes to President Marcos before the upcoming May 12 midterm elections. | PND

By DA

Efforts by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to rein in the price of rice and other food items helped slow inflation in April, bringing it to its lowest level since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Tuesday that headline inflation eased to 1.4 percent in April, the slowest since the 1.2 percent rate recorded in November 2019.

Food inflation also decelerated significantly, dropping to 0.7 percent from 2.3 percent in March and 6.3 percent in April 2023.

“We are encouraged that our initiatives to enhance supply and stabilize agricultural commodity prices are easing the financial burden on millions of Filipino consumers, especially low-income families,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr.

Inflation for the bottom 30 percent income household slipped to a record low 0.1 percent in April.

However, he noted that challenges remain: “There are still supply and value chain issues the DA is actively addressing, particularly in the pork sector, which could further stabilize food prices moving forward.”

Pork supply had been hurt by the lingering African Swine Fever. But the DA is just commercial roll out of ASF vaccine to start its massive hog repopulation program.

On May 1, the DA launched its P20-per-kilo rice program in Cebu City, with a broader rollout planned after the elections. The initiative, along with other DA-led options, has contributed to lower rice prices. After declining by 7.7 percent in March, rice prices dropped another 10.9 percent year-on-year in April.

The PSA also reported slower inflation for vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, meat, fruits, fish, and other seafood, signaling a broader easing of food costs.

By DOTr

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), under the leadership of Secretary Vince Dizon, will move to support the continued service of motorcycle (MC) taxis.

This development follows a key meeting on Tuesday with George Royeca, founder of Angkas and a long-time advocate for transport modernization and rider welfare.

The dialogue highlighted pressing concerns from both bikers, whose livelihoods depend on MC Taxi operations, and from commuters who rely on this essential and affordable mode of transport—especially across Metro Manila’s congested corridors.

With the pilot program for motorcycle taxis having officially ended in 2024 and with time running short before the close of the current Congress, Secretary Dizon recognized the urgency of the situation.

In response, he committed to releasing a Department Order that would allow MC taxi services to legally continue while awaiting the passage of a permanent law.

“The permanent solution for the continuous operations of MC taxis would require congressional action, that’s why the DOTr is committed to working with our lawmakers to come up with viable solutions that greatly benefit both our riders and commuters”, Secretary Dizon said.

He also emphasized that the move to allow the continuous operations of MC taxis is consistent with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives to ease the burden of passengers by giving them more options for transport, faster commute and more time with their families.

The transport chief however reiterated that MC taxis must be fully compliant with the recently issued Department Order on road safety, as well as existing standards and regulations on road worthiness and driver qualifications.