Tacloban City (October 3) -- The Statistical Community of Samar was adjudged as the Best NSM Province for 2005.

This was announced by Ms. Vangie Paran of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) and NEDA Director Buenaventura Go-soco, Jr. during the Opening Ceremonies of the 17th National Statistics Month Celebration in Region 8 which was held at the NEDA Conference Hall at Government Center, Palo, Leyte.

The award was received by Ms. Letecia Chu, the Samar Provincial Statistics Officer and the Samar DepED Division Superintendent Alfredo D. Dacuro.

Of the six provinces in Eastern Visayas, Ms. Paran said that only four signified their intention to join in the contest: the Province of Leyte thru the NSO Leyte; the province of Biliran thru NSO Biliran; Northern Samar thru DepEd Northern Samar and the Province of Samar thru the Statistical Community of Samar.

Samar Province won because it has excelled in the different criteria set forth by the organizers: diversity of activities, 30%; extent of participation, 30%; Impact, 30%; and Economy of Resource, 10%. Samar 's activities are well-documented and are in line with the theme of last year which was "Modernizing Agriculture and Fishery through Quality Statistics."

Relevant to this year's theme, "Empowering Consumers through Responsive Energy Statistics," the topics discussed during the Opening Program were the International Stardization Program of the National Power Corporation which was discussed by Engr. Gilberto A. Gabon; the Leyeco II Best Practices as revealed by Atty. Gwen L. Conde who is the General Manager, and the Energy Statistics Updates in the Region which was given by Ms. Vangie Paran of the National Statistical Coordination Board.

The Opening Ceremonies which was hosted by the National Power Corporation, was attended by the various sectors of the community which include members of the Regional Statistics Coordination Committee, agency heads, agency statisticians and students from various schools.