The representatives of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII bagged awards at the 30th National Statistics Month (NSM) Celebration of the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on October 9 and 11, 2019 in Butuan City.
With the theme Data Innovation: Key to a Better Nation, the Opening Program of this year’s celebration was held on October 9, 2019 at the South Atrium of Robinsons Place. The program laid emphasis on the importance of the Census of Population and Housing in the Changing Data Landscape. Presentations on the basic concepts of the census of population and housing, the uses and importance of the census, and the results of the PopCen 2015 were given.
The highlights of the program included competitions on Best Display of Statistical Practices Using Infographics and Stats and Ladders. The Regional Statistics Committee members, together with the line agencies and bureaus, local government units, academe, and tri-media practitioners, took part in the activity.
With the same concept as the classic board game Snakes and Ladders, Stats and Ladders is a life-size board game comprising two or more players who have a shared objective of reaching the last board tile. The set of questions was derived from the infographics prepared by the PSA technical staff. All participating agencies were provided with the said infographics. Seventeen competitors from various agencies vied for the Stats and Ladders championship. The winners of the competition are as follows:
| Ms. Mariel P. Makinano Department of Science and Technology Caraga Regional Office | 1st Place |
| Mr. Edwin A. Ausa Provincial Planning and Development Office Surigao del Norte | 2nd Place |
| Engr. Frances Liane C. Matildo Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII | 3rd Place |
| Mr. Bill Carlo Baconguis Commission on Higher Education Caraga | 4th Place |
| Mr. Jason Ryan Tabada Bureau of Fire Protection Caraga | 5th Place |
The Best Display of Statistical Practices Using Infographics competition featured the statistical data highlighting major sectoral indicators through skillfully crafted infographics of participating agencies and institutions. In the same way, the contest aimed to ensure the accessibility of accurate and reliable data to the general public. The winning entries came from the following agencies and institutions:
| Caraga State University | 1st Place |
| Department of Social Welfare and Development | 2nd Place |
| Provincial Planning and Development Office of Agusan del Sur | 3rd Place |
| Department of Health, Caraga | 4th Place |
| Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII | 5th Place |
MGB RO No. XIII also won big in the Annual Statistical Quiz 2019 and Infographics Display held on October 11, 2019 at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office No. XIII in Ambago, Butuan City. MGB RO No. XIII representatives emerged as champions in the two competitions.
The NSM was first observed in 1990 pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647 signed by then President Corazon C. Aquino on September 20, 1990 declaring the month of October of every year as the National Statistics Month. The NSM celebration aims to promote, enhance and instill awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of society. Similarly, it aims to bring forth the cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics in the country.