Commerce prepares for 2020 Census

The Department of Commerce is getting ready to conduct the decennial CNMI census starting this month.

Beginning on Tinian in mid-August 2019, Rota in early September 2019, and Saipan in mid-September 2019, the decennial CNMI Household Survey or Census Map and Address Register will provide the most comprehensive count of all housing units and CNMI residents since the 2010 Census.

This is also known as the CNMI 2020 Census. It is usually done every 10 years.

Saipan Tribune last Tuesday obtained a leaked document that indicated the hiring of a former Torres administration Cabinet member as the 2020 Census project manager.

The Torres administration acknowledged the document, but told Saipan Tribune that they would be issuing a statement about it over the weekend.

In a statement from the Torres administration, it noted that the census is an important resource for legislation and policies.

“Keeping an accurate count of homes and their respective conditions, as well as accounting for the number of residents we have in the CNMI are vital resources for policymaking. This information will provide a better understanding of our resources following the devastation of Super Typhoon Yutu,” Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said in the statement.

“This data will influence our plans and policies across the board. Gov. Torres and I look forward to the update and examining the changes over the last decade,” Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios said, adding that the Department of Commerce Central Statistics Division will use this information to select survey samples when it conducts household surveys.

Commerce Secretary Mark O. Rabauliman added in a statement that temporary mappers will travel every road and visit every home to gather information such as descriptions of houses and count of people living in each housing unit.

“This opportunity happens once every 10 years when a census is conducted, and although we are only describing houses and taking a count of people, the operation provides a wealth of information that our policymakers and business leaders can use for economic development and social improvements,” Rabauliman noted in a statement.

He noted that the temporary mappers took an oath of confidentiality according to the CNMI Statistical Act of 1990, so fears of information leaks are minimized.

“…I urge our residents and community to take some time to welcome our mappers to their neighborhoods and villages to help complete this important project,” Rabauliman said.