Pangasinan Today

LINGAYEN — Pangasinan has the largest population in Region I and ranked third among the provinces in the entire country with a population of 2.65 million based on the final results of the Census of Population (POPCEN 2007) conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on August 1 of last  year.

Region I comprises Ilocos Norte with 547,284, Ilocos Sur with 632,255, La Union 720,972 and Pangasinan 2,645,395 for a total of 4,545,906.

Among the 44 towns and four cities in the province, the City of San Carlos topped the list with a total population of 161,884 followed by Dagupan with 149,554 and Malasiqui came in third with 122,820 while Sto. Tomas has the lowest population with 13,706.

The recent  12th POPCEN survey was aimed at providing an updated, complete and comprehensive population count of the province as well as its demographic and socio-economic characteristics which are essential in preparing plans, policies and programs including the allocation of government funds.

Said activity was conducted pursuant to Batas Pambansa Blg. 72 designating the National Statistical Coordination Board for the POPCEN 2007.

Likewise, a Provincial Census Coordinating Board was created to assist the NSO with facilities, publicity and assistance in the provincial conduct of POPCEN 2007.

Results down to the barangay level were made official with the signing by Pres. Arroyo of Proclamation #1489 on April 16, 2008.

The population counts proclaimed by the president as official for all purposes were based on cencus questionnaires from different barangays all over the country.

These questionnaires were processed in Regional Data Processing Centers adopting a new technology which involved digital imaging and intelligent character recognition.

About 40,000 field workers were deployed by the NSO during the nationwide cencus taking last year.

Final count has placed the Philippines population at 88.87 million.. (PIO/Chona C. Bugayong)