Page 38 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 3

STS513 Sabrina O. R.
concerned IAC, NGA or PSA. These indicators still need to be discussed with
the concerned stakeholders with regards to their operationalized definitions,
its discrepancy with global definitions, and the possible ways to generate the
data needed. Discussion on updating existing forms/databases to include the
needed variables are suggested for the development of the indicators. Some
of these indicators are Proportion of local breeds classified as being at risk,
not-at risk or at unknown level of risk extinction; Agriculture orientation index
for government expenditure; and Proportion of medium and high-tech
industry value added in total manufacturing value added. Finally, there about
4 indicators that were suggested to review existing questionnaires used in
institutionalized surveys so that it can include additional questions which will
cater to the needed variables. For the indicator Proportion of youth and adults
with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by level of skill,
it was suggested that the questionnaire for Functional Literacy, Education and
Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) was reviewed to accommodate questions about
ICT skills.
Finally, the two indicators that were recommended for exclusion namely,
2.5.1 Number of plant and animal genetic resources for food and agriculture
secured in either medium- or long-term conservation facilities and 2.b.1
Agriculture export subsidies, expectedly fell under the classification that it
does not need to be operationalized anymore as it is of no relevance to the
Philippine setting.

4. Conclusion
As a developing country, the Philippines is facing a great challenge in
monitoring its sustainable development goals due to its still developing data
ecosystem. In response to this challenge, the PSS, through the PSRTI,
conducted a comprehensive study to identify other indicators which can be
included in the current SDG monitoring system in 2017.
In summary, the research of the PSRTI resulted to a list of proposed
indicators that corresponded to the global indicators set by the United
Nations. Several of the indicators were exact matches to the global indicators
while some were proxy or sub indicators. The review of these indicators led to
recommendations on whether these are ready for Philippine
institutionalization or not. Indicators that were good for institutionalization will
be forwarded to the PSA for clearance, while the others are suggested for
further research and discussion. Hence, research still has a big role to play in
the country in order to fully expand and improve the current SDG indicator
system for better monitoring of the sustainable development goal.

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