This chapter provides the details on the role and specific duties and responsibilities of a CBMS Enumerator in the 2023 CBMS. It also provides information on his/her designation as an EN, training and working time, and the role of the Team Supervisor (TS) with the EN’s tasks.
2.1 CBMS Enumerator
As an EN in the 2023 CBMS, you play a very vital role in ensuring the success of this undertaking, particularly the completeness of CBMS coverage, the accuracy of key data items markedly related to poverty information, and the gathering of accurate geolocation for service institutions and infrastructure. The level of quality of the data that you will collect in this data collection activity will highly depend on how well you understand the CBMS concepts and how well you execute the interview techniques and procedures that will be discussed during this training. You will be trained to gather information that is accurate, complete, and strictly in accordance with the instructions, concepts, and definitions laid out in this manual. Your acceptance of the job as an EN entails a commitment on your part to perform your job with the utmost diligence, sincerity, and dedication. Your work as an EN requires tact in approaching people, attention to the smallest detail, and a sense of responsibility to keep all the information confidential that you will obtain from individuals and households during your interview. As an EN, you shall always bear in mind that the data that you will gather in this CBMS data collection will be used as basis in the formulation of plans and policies for the benefit of the entire Filipino nation.
2.2 Designation of a CBMS Enumerator
If you are a hired EN, you will sign a Contract of Service stipulating the scope of your service, the schedule and documentary requirements for wages, the obligations of the PSA, duration of the contract, termination clause, and other conditions. You will also be issued a 2023 CBMS identification (ID) card (See Figure 2.1). The Contract of Service and ID card will attest to your legitimacy as a CBMS enumerator. You are required to wear your ID card whenever you are at work. This will help you not only in soliciting the help and cooperation of local officials but more importantly in convincing the respondent to grant an interview. All hired CBMS personnel will also sign an Oath of Data Privacy as proof of their commitment and responsibility in maintaining data confidentiality and data privacy.
Your contract as an EN will be effective officially at the start of the training. As an EN, you are required to undergo training before going out on fieldwork. You are expected to complete the tasks assigned to you within the specified enumeration period. Being designated as an EN means that you will be the one who will perform all the work that will be assigned to you. Allowing any unauthorized person to do the listing and interviewing on your behalf is strictly prohibited. In no instance, therefore, should you ask anybody else to do the listing and interviewing for you. Violation of this rule is a ground for dismissal from CBMS work or termination of your contract.
You are likewise cautioned that: (a) copying or reproduction of data in the questionnaires, (b) allowing unauthorized persons to accompany you during your data collection, which provides other persons with access to the information that you are gathering, or (c) administering other forms other than the 2023 CBMS questionnaires are deemed violations of the confidentiality provision in Section 26 of RA 10625 and are beyond the agreements of the PSA with the LGU are deemed violations of the confidentiality provisions in the Section 10 of RA 11315. Such violations are grounds for dismissal/termination of your contract and/or prosecution in proper court. In case you fail to perform your duties as an EN, the PSA management has the right to terminate your services.
As an EN, you are also expected to work harmoniously with your other co-workers as well as with the LGUs concerned within the boundaries set by the law and to perform other CBMS-related duties that are assigned to you from time to time by your supervisors.
Figure 1.2
2023 CBMS ENUMERATOR’S ID
2.3 Training
As an EN, you are required to undergo the training for enumeration for the 2023 CBMS. It is important to note that you shall always be physically and mentally present and punctual during the training so that you will not miss the discussion of any topic and/or concept subject to what is allowed by the LGU and national government due to pandemic restrictions. Note that a hybrid mode of both onsite and online training might be employed. To understand the various concepts and operational procedures in the CBMS, you shall actively participate in the class discussions and perform all CBMS exercises or activities. You are also expected to actively participate in the mock interview and field practice interview that will be conducted on the latter part of the training. Aside from providing you with the knowledge and instilling confidence in conducting the listing/enumeration, the training will also prepare you to handle enumeration problems that may arise during the actual field operations.
2.4 Working Time
For the 2023 CBMS operations, you are required to work from Monday to Saturday (including holidays), until you have fully covered the area/s assigned to you. You may schedule your visit to the households when the respondents are most likely at home, that is, early in the morning, at noon, late in the afternoon, or even in the evening, if the situation calls for it. Make sure to log the schedule of callbacks in the application (assigned device) so that the supervisors are made aware of your whereabouts. You may also visit the respondent on Sunday if it is the only day that the respondent is available for an interview. See to it, however, that you do not interview the respondents at inconvenient hours.
2.5 Area of Assignment
For the 2023 CBMS data collection, you will be assigned to cover an entire Enumeration Area (EA) or an entire barangay. Depending on the population or the geographic coverage of the barangay, you may be assigned to a certain portion. On the other hand, you may also be assigned to more than (1) EA or barangay. Your specific area of assignment will be given to you by your TS. As an EN, you should finish your work in the area/s assigned to you within the prescribed enumeration period. In case you are unable to finish your work on time due to justifiable reasons such as a health problem, accident, or peace and order problem, it is your duty to immediately inform your supervisor about such an incident so that remedial actions to complete your work could be done. Make sure also to familiarize your area of assignment during the ocular visit so that you can plan and manage your workload or tasks efficiently.
2.6 Duties and Responsibilities
As CBMS EN, you play a vital role in the success of the data collection. Your primary task is to gather correct, accurate, and complete information according to the instructions discussed in this manual. There are three (3) main tasks that you need to accomplish:
Main Tasks
Interview the responsible household member (e.g., asking the questions, noting down responses given to you, checking each response, and ensuring that they are complete, clear, reasonable, and consistent with the other responses) using the CBMS Form 2 Household Profile Questionnaire.
Correctly record the geolocation and list all the buildings/housing units based on the guidelines provided in Chapter 7 or 8 of this manual.
Conduct field editing in cases when inconsistencies are found in the questionnaires/forms submitted.
Pre-Enumeration
Attend the training to gain knowledge on the various CBMS concepts, definitions, and instructions as discussed in this manual.
Meet with your TS to discuss your workload/assignments.
Before the enumeration in the barangay/EA, pay a courtesy call (together with the TS) to the Punong Barangay or any barangay official.
Conduct an ocular inspection of the boundaries and other physical features/characteristics of the barangay/EA.
Plan for enumeration route.
Enumeration
Visit each building and determine if it is qualified to be listed following the criteria on the buildings that need to be listed. In each building, determine the number of housing units and in each housing unit, determine the number of households residing in it;
Identify and select appropriate forms that you will use based on the unit of enumeration, e.g., CBMS Form 2 for households.
Record the geolocation of all the housing units (considered as living quarters).
Interview personally the head of the household, his/her spouse, or any adult responsible household member and record the characteristics of the household members, housing unit, and household using CBMS Form 2 (Household Profile Questionnaire).
If in case the respondent refuses to be interviewed, make sure to accomplish a set of refusal questions that includes data items on housing characteristics.
Administer the CBMS Form 3 (Waiver/Consent Form) for the households that you were able to interview completely.
After completing the interview, review the questionnaire for completeness and consistency of entries.
Accomplish the CBMS Form 8 (Notice of Listing/Enumeration) sticker and post it on the door or any part of the building/housing unit where it can easily be seen or noticed.
Accomplish or check using tablet-based application the status of your enumeration using CBMS Form 1 (Listing Record of Buildings, Housing Units and Households).
Address the concerns or observations flagged by your supervisors by correcting the entries in the forms or reinterviewing the household.
Accomplish the CBMS Form 11 (Daily Accomplishment Report of Enumerator).
Submit (or upload) your accomplished questionnaires (data) daily to the PSA server (if Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) is implemented) or Team Supervisor (if Paper-and-Pencil Interview (PAPI) is implemented).
Back-up your accomplished questionnaire daily using the CBMS Mobile Application.
Meet with your TS once a week. In this meeting, submit all the accomplished questionnaires and computation sheets to your TS. Take the opportunity to submit the electronic files to the server. You can also discuss with him/her the problems that you have encountered during your fieldwork. The TS will also discuss his/her assessment of your work and suggest recommendations on your CBMS-related problems. Go to the CBMS headquarters for urgent concerns in relation to data.
Report any untoward incidents or problems that you encounter either to your supervisor or by encoding through the CBMS Mobile Application.
Perform other CBMS-related duties that may be assigned from time to time by your supervisor.
Post-enumeration
Report to TS that the enumeration was completed in your assigned EA.
Return the accomplished and unused CBMS forms as well as the devices and materials after the completion of the enumeration in your area/s of assignment.
Perform other administrative tasks and other administrative reports/forms to complete your engagement as EN for 2023 CBMS data collection.
When performing your duties as an EN, adhere strictly to the instructions in this manual, specifically when listing buildings, housing units, and households; conducting an interview; mapping; reviewing the completed questionnaires for correctness, completeness, and consistency of entries; submitting the accomplished questionnaires, and returning the CBMS forms and other supplies and materials to the TS after the enumeration.
2.7 Working Relationship with your Team Supervisor (TS)
You will be assigned to work with your TS. It is essential that you should know and understand his/her duties and responsibilities to maintain a harmonious working relationship with him/her.
As an EN, you are required to report to your TS for your area/s of assignment, EN's code, CBMS forms, and supplies and materials that you will use in your fieldwork. Discuss with your TS the best route and strategy to cover your area. You may need his/her assistance in gathering information on the boundaries, travel, and terrain of the area/s assigned to you.
Your TS will ensure that you follow the procedures in listing, enumeration, and mapping. As such, he/she will review your accomplished CBMS forms. He/she will accompany you to observe how you conduct an interview of a household. He/she will also do spot check and re-interview some of the households that you have already interviewed to check and ensure the quality of your work.
During the weekly meeting with your TS, preferably every Wednesday, your TS will assess the progress of your work and recommend solutions to your CBMS data collection problems. This will also be the time when you will submit your accomplished questionnaires and accomplishment report to your TS.