The 2024 Population Census-Community-Based Monitoring System (PopCen-CBMS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Negros Oriental has been extended after several enumerators backed out, an official said Thursday. Engr. Ariel Fortuito, PSA-Negros Oriental chief statistical specialist and provincial head, told the Philippine News Agency in an interview that the Sept. 15 national deadline was extended after they failed to meet their target. Fortuito said they have so far reached 80 percent and expected to complete it by the end of October. 'Currently, we have about an 80 percent accomplishment already and we hope to complete the census by the end of October,' he said. He added that the biggest challenge they faced was that several enumerators backed out while the program was underway for a variety of reasons. The PSA local chief said some enumerators were students and had to juggle their time between school and fieldwork. According to Fortuito, these individuals did not say they were students whe n they applied for the job. Other enumerators were also from business process outsourcing companies that mostly had night shifts, which impeded their daytime assignments, he said. However, he did not give specific numbers. The PSA in Negros Oriental had to hire new and additional enumerators that they had to train first before fielding them, he explained. Fortuito is optimistic they will be able to complete the PopCen-CBMS in the province in the next few weeks as the PSA is required to submit all data to the national office before the end of the year Source: Philippines News agency