The RSBSA, NSO said, is a database or master list containing basic information such as names, demographic and socio-economic profile and other information about farmers, farm laborers and fishermen which will be used as basis of national and subnational development plans for the country’s agriculture and fishery sectors.

For the field interviews in the province, the NSO has hired 418 field interviewers (FIs) who will be going house to house to interview farmers and fishers.

A total of 121,034 households in Aklan are targeted for the field interviews, said Blas Solidum, provincial statistics officer.

“The RSBSA will essentially address the need for a comprehensive and systematic information system that will help the government identify or locate farmers, farm laborers and fishermen who are target beneficiaries of agriculture-related programs and services,” Mr Solidum said.

Mr Solidum also said the RSBSA is in line with the government’s effort to promote transparency, accountability and people empowerment, which are attributes of good governance.

“This is also one of the key programmes of Cabinet Cluster in Good Governance and Anti-Corruption (GCAC), chaired by President Aquino under the Digitisation and Information Technology in Government Sub-cluster,” Mr Solidum added.

The conduct of the RSBSA nationwide, will be assisted by the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Agrarian Reform.