CALASIAO, Pangasinan — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) provincial office in Pangasinan has warned the public against criminals posing as census takers.
Ferdinand Jucutan, focal person for 2020 census on population and housing in Pangasinan, said the national government will once again conduct a census on population and housing this year, and some might use this opportunity against unsuspecting victims.
“They may, in fact, be akyat bahay (thieves), salisi, or even budol-budol, and they can victimize innocent householders,” he said in an interview Wednesday.
Jucutan said before the householders accept the census interviewers, they must first show a certification from the barangay council proving they are authorized personnel, and they have been given clearance to move around the community.
“The legitimate census takers are easy to spot. They wear uniforms and their identification (ID) cards, along with a certification from the barangay chairman. They could also be accompanied by a barangay tanod (security) or kagawad (councilman) to ensure that they can be trusted,” he added.
The census, which is done all over the country every 10 years, involves the PSA and the Department of Education (DepEd) as teachers will also be tasked to go house to house and conduct census-related surveys and interviews.
Meanwhile, Jucutan urged national government agencies and local government units to join the PSA’s information dissemination campaign. (PNA)
