Winnie Monsod vs. Jojo Robles, who's more truthful?

Winnie Monsod is the pro-Arroyo economist who claimed (thru her "survey analysis") that GMA won in 2004. Jojo Robles is the Ed-in-chief of the pro-administration newspaper Manila Standard Today.

Sabi ni Monsod na poverty is down, relying mainly using NSCB data. The same NSCB (previously known as NSO) that used statistical trickery to lower our unemployment numbers to single digits.

Even the guy you claimed to rely on for "independent analysis" had to rely on NSCB statistics--unless kaya niyang mag conduct ng census, independent of NSCB. (siguro pwede kung may pera...)

Hindi raw accurate ang World Bank estimates on poverty, sabi ni Monsod. I agree. I believe parehong mali ang WB at NSCB.

At least Jojo Robles was honest to admit the truth re the government window dressing statistics. Read this too from Neal Cruz.

And can we really trust the NSCB? Can we trust their uhmmm... "projections"?

Please do remember, Maam Winnie, na the NSCB did not take a census of our population noong 2005. So we're pretty much relying on old Year 2000 data. And since gov't statistics rely on the most up-to-date population data (really necessary) to calculate unemployment, crime, poverty, education, cost of living statistics etc -- it's really difficult not to question the veracity and accuracy of these government "projections" that are favorable to the admin's agenda.

From the Malaya:

SEN. Rodolfo Biazon yesterday disputed the reported slowing down of the annual population growth to 1.95 percent.

Biazon said the National Statistics Coordinating Board could not have conducted a census last year because there was no funding for that activity.

The country’s population stood at 85.2 million in 2005. NSCB projects it would reach 94 million by 2010.

He expressed suspicion the figure was fabricated, noting President Arroyo announced in her state of the nation address last year that she was targeting a reduction in the growth rate to 1.9 from 2.36 percent.

"In the SONA, (Arroyo) stated that the population growth at that time was 2.36 percent, and then she proceeded further that she was targeting to reduce this to 1.9 percent… Meaning in 10 months without implementing a program to support the lowering of the population growth, we achieved it, without the benefit of a census," he said.

Biazon said a census is required conducted every five years, with the last one in 2000.

"There was none in 2005 because the executive department did not submit the funding requirements for the conduct of that census," he said.

Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla has said the figure was "misleading" because it was based on "a mere projection."

Remulla said the NSCB has issued only a projection based on the 2000 census that population growth could go down to 1.95 percent between 2005 and 2010.

Parang "re-enacted budget" ng admin yung mga statistical "projections" nila. In the re-enacted budget example, the admin fails to pass a new budget on time, they get the same old budget from last year. but they are allowed to re-juggle it to suit their purposes.

Sa admin "projections" naman, since we didn't conduct a 2005 census, the admin statisticians can be also creative in their "interpretations" and "projections" of the 2000 census numbers.

So when the admin tells us na bumababa ang population rate natin despite having virtually no reliable gov't population program in place, you start to wonder...