Every information produced by a statistical agency is public, states President of IBGE
June 22, 2017 04h47 PM | Last Updated: July 18, 2017 04h06 PM
"Every information produced by a statistical agency is the result of a demand from the society. It is absolutely public, accessible to anyone, at the same time, unrestricted. The only restricted information of a statistical agency is that from the Confidentiality Act – Law no. 5,534, of November 14, 1968, which assures the statistical confidentiality of the information provided by the IBGE –, which ensures our existence". This statement was made today morning by the President of the IBGE, Roberto Olinto, during an interview to the press in Rio de Janeiro.
The President explained that a statistical agency works based on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, established in 1994 by the Statistical Commission of the United Nations. It also works based on some ethical codes and protocols. "It does not matter who will fund [the surveys], once the principles, the logic of public information, the information as a public good be preserved. We will not sell information. We will not sell any closed information to a customer. We are open to partnerships, funding, since our conditions be respected", stressed him.
Olinto explained that it is not new, as some IBGE surveys were only possible with the partnership with some ministries. This is the case of the National Survey of Health 2013 - PNS, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, and the Survey of Accommodation Services 2016 - PSH, whose data should be released next month, result of a covenant with the Ministry of Tourism. "All these surveys were discussed with the ministries, when the IBGE rules were placed. This is the logic of a statistical agency. Partnerships for producing statistics are welcome. There is no exclusivity. We, as a statistical agency, are deeply interested in being funded".
Olinto advocated the regulation of the National Fund of Geography and Statistics, provided by Law no. 5,878, of May 11, 1973. "When establishing a fund for a statistical agency, you are protecting it from budget problems. You have a fund permanently supporting a group of surveys. This would be a huge advance in out funding logic", concluded him.
Text: Diana Paula de Souza
Photo: Vanessa Santana
