Philippine Institute for Development Studies(PIDS)

Good day,
 
I would like to request the following data in excel/csv or any digital format:

1. Estimate on the distribution (population count estimate) of SEC with income ranges
2. Estimate on the distribution (population count estimate) of SEC per city.

For context, I am looking for a more recent version of this file considering the 2 items mentioned above: https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsdps2022.pdf

Thank you,
JD De Jesus
Data Scientist

August 22, 2023

Dear Ms. Manuel:

Thank you for your request dated August 2, 2023, under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

We received your request today, August 22, 2023, and will respond on or before August 24, 2023, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations.

Thank you,

NOVIE D. SALCEDO
FOI Receiving Officer

August 22, 2023

Dear JOSHUA DAVE DE JESUS,

I refer to my letter of Aug 22, 2023 10:36:21 AM; about your request under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for SEC Distribution for 2022.

Our response to your request is due on Aug 23, 2023 10:36:21 AM. Unfortunately, it is taking longer than expected to deal with your request because we need to prepare the necessary data and clear it with our Data Privacy Officer.

I apologize for this delay but have applied for an extension so we could work further on your request. We hope to be able to send you a response on or before Sep 20, 2023 10:36:21 AM.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHgsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEVBJRFMtMDg0ODk3MzMwNTM0DA, for request with ticket number #PIDS-084897330534.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Novie Salcedo
FOI Officer

September 5, 2023

Dear Citizen de Jesus,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated Aug 02, 2023 10:36:21 AM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Your request

You requested for data on the following:
•	Estimate on the distribution (population count estimate) of SEC with income ranges; and
•	Estimate on the distribution (population count estimate) of SEC per city

Response to your request

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, this Office does not produce the data you have requested. PIDS makes use of administrative data from other agencies for its research studies. However, you may want to get in touch directly with the Philippine Statistics Authority (https://psa.gov.ph/) to request the data that you need.

Some additional notes on the request:
According to one of the authors, the PSA has not yet released an official definition to determine SEC (socioeconomic classes) for the country and there is also no internationally accepted definition of the middle class. The authors of the 2020 study titled, “Poverty, the Middle Class, and Income Distribution amid COVID-19” (https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsdps2022.pdf) utilized the alternative definition of middle class using official poverty lines, formulated and first used in 2015 by the same primary author and PIDS fellow, Dr. Jose Ramon G. Albert: (https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidspn1513.pdf). 

Using this same definition, the first item on population estimate by SEC can already be found on Table 7 (page 22) of the 2020 study. This is the latest study and most recent result that they have generated for income class distribution. 

For the second item, their study did not include city-level estimates given that the dataset they used, FIES 2018, can only reliably generate up to provincial-level estimates. (see PSA notes here: https://rsso02.psa.gov.ph/content/2018-fies-visit-1 ; https://www.psa.gov.ph/content/annual-family-income-estimated-php-313-thousand-average-2018). Appendix Table A-1 (page 45) of the study shows the population estimates by province and income class.

For further assistance, you may review the FAQ section of the eFOI site: https://www.foi.gov.ph/help.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by writing to the Central Appeals and Review Committee through [email protected]. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result, within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request. 

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

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Thank you.

Respectfully,
Novie Salcedo
FOI Officer