Philippine Statistics Authority

Profile narrative

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is the central statistical agency of the Republic of the Philippines, tasked with producing official statistics on the nation's economy, society, demographics, and environment. It operates under Republic Act No. 10625, the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013, which consolidated the former National Statistics Office, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, and other statistical units into a single authority. The PSA is attached to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for policy coordination and oversight. Its responsibilities include conducting censuses and surveys such as the Census of Population and Housing, the Census of Agriculture and Fisheries, and various household and enterprise surveys. The agency also manages the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) and the Civil Registration System, which are referenced in its public statements. Through a network of regional statistical offices located throughout the country, the PSA collects, processes, and disseminates data to government entities, private sector actors, academia, and the general public.

In October 2023, the PSA reported a cyberattack that specifically targeted its Community-Based Monitoring System, leading to the immediate isolation of the affected system to prevent further compromise. The agency confirmed that its Philippine Identification System and Civil Registration System were not impacted by the incident. As part of its response, the PSA activated a dedicated breach team, coordinated with national cybersecurity and law enforcement authorities, and implemented additional security measures to strengthen its defenses. It also issued public warnings advising citizens to avoid social media posts that purported to share sample data but contained malicious links. The PSA stated that it would pursue legal action against those responsible for the attack.

Incidents

1 incident linked to this organisation.