PPA GETS ISO CERTIFICATION

The Philippine Ports Authority, in a press statement said that the Port Agency has recently been given its first ISO 9001:2008 Certificate for the “Facilitation of Vessels Entrance and Clearance Processes” at the Port of Batangas.

PPA General Manager Juan C. Sta. Ana said that the PPA has started the process of getting ISO certification specifically on the entrance and clearance processes at the Port of Batangas with the plan to replicate the same in other key ports nationwide.

“The ISO Quality Management System (QMS) is being pushed by the DOTC in compliance with the requirements of EO 605 which directs all government instrumentalities to be ISO certified.  Expectedly, our being able to get ISO-QMS certification on the vessel entrance and clearance process at Batangas Port officially marked PPA’s initial journey toward ISO certification of its operational processes which we hope to be undertaken on all our ports nationwide,” Sta. Ana added.

The Stage Two Certification Audit for the Quality Management System at the Port of Batangas was conducted by TUV Rheinland Philippines.  There were three (3) External Auditors and one (1) Industry Expert present during the audit.  During the closing meeting, TUV Rheinland Philippines, presented three (3) positive findings; 1.  Top Managment’s support is evident. 2.  PMO Batangs QMSVEC documents are well established and 3.  Management and Process Owners compliance with regulatory requirements is well supported.

After the presentation of the findings, the External Auditors, TUV Rheinland Philippines, informed the PPA ISO-QMS Core Team that the Stage 2 Certification Audit recorded zero non-conformities.  Thus, they recommended PPA Port of Batangas for certification to ISO 9001:2008.

With PPA’s commitment to DOTC’s Performance Governance System (PGS), the QMS Project is now being replicated in the gateway ports of Cagayan de Oro, Davao, General Santos, Zamboanga, Ozamiz and Iloilo.  The QMS-VEC Project at the Port of Cagayan de Oro was launched last June 6, 2011.  Orientation on the Implementation of the QMS-VEC was conducted and completed on June 7-10, 2011.  The procurement for the services of a Certification Body is currently being conducted.