The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) family income and expenditure survey, which gathers data on family income distribution, levels of living, and spending patterns, is currently underway in 91 barangays across Aklan.

Last month, it was reported the survey would be expanded this year.

“This is the first time the [survey] will be conducted in the province with such a big number of samples,” said Provincial Statistics Officer Antonet Catubuan.

She noted, about 1,540 households were randomly selected, which the PSA official said was “almost four times higher than the usual samples.”

Fifty six PSA-Aklan data collectors will be conducting the door-to-door surveys.

The survey, which is conducted every three years, asks about a variety of expenditures including food, clothing, electricity, household equipment, health, transport, communication, education, among other items. The data is then used in estimations of poverty and to measure the Human Development Index, a tool in assessing a country’s social and economic development levels./WDJ