Regional Updates 2009 FIES 1st Visit Machine Processing Wrapped-up Pool of encoders was hired by the regional office to take charge of the encoding of data for the 1st Visit of the 2009 Family Income and Expenditures Survey (FIES).  Machine processing began on August 27 and winded up on September 29.  Encoders were Aileen Batlag, Gaudencio Castillon, Rodel Cruz, Jr., Rogelio Dafielmoto, Jr., Manjoursa Lauban, Sahira Dimaronsing, Annabel Tambara, and Ricky Laureano. Taking main charge of the task was Statistical Coordination Officer I Leonardo  L. Sales who served as the region’s Data Processing Center Supervisor. The 2009 FIES is a nationwide survey of households undertaken every three years by the National Statistics Office (NSO). It is the main source of data on family income and expenditure, which include among  others, levels of consumption by item of expenditure as well as sources of income in cash and in kind. Data obtained for this  survey will be utilized by planners and administrators in social and economic development planning and decision making. Around 51,000 households will be interviewed twice for the survey.  First visit was done in July 2009 with the first semester January to June 2009 as the reference period; the second visit will be made in January 2010 with the second semester of 2009, that is, July to December as reference period. The same set of questions is asked for both visits.