What is the Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry?

The Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI), formerly the Annual Survey of Establishments (ASE) is a nationwide undertaking which aims to provide data on the structure and level of economic activity in the country, that serve as reliable bases upon which the government and private sectors can formulate policies and evolve economic development plans. Specifically, the survey results are used in: the construction of national and regional accounts of the Philippine economy; formulating and monitoring plans/policies in the attainment of national and regional economic goals; determining and comparing regional economic structures and performances; and in market research and feasibility studies.

Who are the users of the ASPBI data?

The National Statistical Coordination Board uses the ASPBI primarily for National Accounts estimation. Research institutions, international organizations such as United Nations Industrial Development Organization, World Bank, International Labor Organization, and Asian Development Bank, business entities, and students use ASPBI data for market research, industry studies, and other economic analysis requirements.

What is the scope and coverage of the 2005 ASPBI?

The 2005 ASPBI covers establishments engaged in the following economic activities as defined in the 1994 Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC):

• Agriculture, Hunting and Forestry

• Fishing

• Mining and Quarrying

• Manufacturing

• Electricity, Gas and Water Supply

• Construction

• Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles, Motorcycles and Personal and Household Goods

• Hotels and Restaurants

• Transport, Storage and Communications

• Financial Intermediation

• Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities

• Private Education

• Health and Social Work

• Other Community, Social and Personal Service Activities

What is an Establishment?

An establishment is an economic unit under a single ownership or control, i.e., under a single legal entity, engaged in one or predominantly one kind of economic activity at a single fixed location.

For some sectors, the establishment is defined as the unit that is engaged in the production of the most homogenous group of goods and services, usually at one location, but sometimes over a wider area, for which separate records are available that can provide data concerning the production of these goods and services and the materials, labor and physical resources used in this production.

Table 1 and Table 2 are results of the 2002 and 2003 ASPBI:

What specific information are gathered in the 2005 ASPBI?

Establishments are asked to provide information on the following major items:

1. economic activity
2.employment
3. hours worked
4. compensation
5. revenue
6. subsidies received
7. costs
8. capital expenditure
9. fixed assets
10. inventories

The individual responses are aggregated into statistical tables that serve as a quantitative portrait of sectoral structures and trends on national and regional levels.

How is the list of establishments updated?

The 2004 Updating of List of Establishments (ULE) was conducted in preparation for the 2005 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry. The 2004 ULE covered all urban barangays of cities, provincial capitals and first class municipalities and few other barangays. Complete enumeration and updating of the masterlist of establishments were done in these ULE areas. These involved the capturing of the "new" establishments and listing of their characteristics, updating the status and characteristics of the "old" establishments and de-listing of "closed" establishments. Survey feedback from establishment surveys was also used to update the list.

How are the samples selected for the 2005 ASPBI?

The sample establishments were selected using a one-stage stratified systematic sampling. For establishments with total employment of 20 and over, the domains are region and industry. For establishments with less than 20 employment, the national and industry form the domains. Employment size was used as the stratification variable.

When and how are the information for 2005 ASPBI collected?

The information will be collected using the 2005 ASPBI questionnaire. The questionnaires will be delivered personally to sample establishments by the NSO field men during the period April 3-28, 2006. Collection of the questionnaires will start one month after the distribution.

When and how are the results of the 2005 ASPBI made available to the public?

The 2005 ASPBI final results are in individual volumes for 14 major economic sectors. The preliminary and final results will be available on first and last quarter of 2007 respectively. The publication will be in electronic and hard copies.

The ASPBI publications prior to 1996 consist of individual volumes for nine major economic sectors based on the 1977 Philippine PSIC while the 1996 to 2003 consist of individual volumes for 14 major economic sectors based on the 1994 PSIC. Upon request, data from 1990 to 2003 can be made available in compact disc or computer print-outs.