Third-party certification body Socotec Certification Inc. has endorsed DILG-NCR for continued ISO 9001:2015 certification after the second surveillance audit of its regional and field offices last February 23.

The ISO is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations that increase productivity, minimize errors, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Following health standards and protocols, SOCOTEC did a virtual assessment of DILG-NCR’s processes by interviewing members of the top management and process owners and reviewing electronic and physical copies of documents through video.

Document review was made more accessible under DILG-NCR’s WebM system. The system, created by the Regional Information and Communication Technology Unit and the QMS Secretariat headed by LGOO VI Adrian Lopez, is a database for ISO processes aimed at promoting paperless transactions and easier access to ISO forms for transactions between the field offices and the divisions, sections, and units in the DILG-NCR regional office.

The WebM enabled the region to maintain its processes, especially in the pandemic, giving personnel access even while working from home.

DILG-NCR QMS Secretariat also led numerous activities, including capacity development on the ISO, particularly internal quality assessment, documentation, management review for its top management and key personnel.

Assessors also noted that the DILG-NCR context registry has already been updated, particularly in the changes in its processes brought about by the pandemic, and that there have been no non-conformities in the past two audits.

The context registry contains the internal and external issues that can impact the organization while having non-conformities reflects the quality management system’s effectiveness.

DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes Agustin attributed the region’s endorsement for recertification to its personnel’s teamwork and commitment, which never faltered even in the pandemic.

“This commitment to matino, mahusay, at maaasahang service is what we will bring and continue in the new normal. We are happy that even in a pandemic, we have proven what we can do together and accomplish as a DILG-NCR family,” she noted.

DILG-NCR was granted an ISO 9001:2015 certification in December 2018, in line with Executive Order No. 605, which pushes for a government-wide quality management program.

Organizations like DILG-NCR, which have been ISO certified, undergo assessment annually to ensure that quality standards are met and continually practiced. An ISO Certification can be revoked if an organization is found non-compliant during a surveillance audit. #