National Population and Housing Census for 2010 Gets Underway

National Population and Housing Census for 2010 Gets Underway
Santo Domingo, 12/03/2010

On Wednesday morning, December 1st, the IX National Population and Housing  Census 2010 got underway and will continue its work until Sunday December 7.

The Head of State offered details on the questionaire in the different areas which seek to quantify the population, their living conditions and their geographic location, among other pieces of information…

Dominican President, Leonel Fernández, filled out his census forms with the Director of the National Statistics Office (ONE), Pablo Tactuk, in the Ambassadors Hall at the Government House. The ONE is the government entity responsible for gathering information for the national census.

The Head of State offered details on the questionaire in the different areas which seek to quantify the population, their living conditions and their geographic location, among other pieces of information, according to the Presidential Office of Information, Press and Publicity.

 After finishing President Fernández’s census forms, ONE Director Tactuk spoke about the challenge the country faces with this task which he said “constitutes the main source of statistical information without which public policies and economic and social planning would not have a fundamental basis to move forward.”  

Tactuk asked for citizens’ collaboration to provide honest information when census takers visit their homes throughout the country. He explained that the census helps authorities take informed decisions about education programs, healthcare and social protection. “In addition it helps to define where and how much work and public investment is required to elevate the well-being of Dominicans and foreigners living in the country.”

He added that the census also allows the authorities to understand where there it should be strongly supporting agricultural production and where it should be exerting more effort to employ people in search of jobs or to help specific groups such as children, adolescents, young adults, women and the elderly.