EMB gets ISO 14001 certification

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has obtained ISO 14001 certification from TUV Management Service of Germany, the first by any national environmental regulatory agency in Asia.

The TUV Management Service certified that the various units of the EMB central office have established and are applying environmental management system (EMS) according to ISO 14001: 1996. The certificate is valid until July 8, 2007.

Environmental and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun commended the EMB for this achievement, saying that the effort is in line with the administration’s thrust for good ecological governance and environmental leadership by example. Gozun added that other DENR offices, notably the DENR Central, NCR and Region 4 offices have likewise started similar processes for ISO 14001 certification.

EMB Director Julian Amador explained that an EMS is an organization’s set of management tools, principles and procedures aimed at protecting human health and the environment from the potential impacts of its activities, products and services.

He said under EMB’s EMS, the environmental policy is composed of the following main features: ensuring the attainment of environmental quality for the present and future generations of Filipinos; policy for cooperation and partnership with its various stakeholders; and policy for the need for environmental leadership by example.

Amador also mentioned that with EMB’s EMS, cost saving will be realized because the Bureau undertakes electricity, water, fuel and paper conservation programs, among others.

ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization and is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from nearly 130 countries, including the Philippines, through the Bureau of Product Standards. It was established in 1947 and is based in Geneva, Switzerland.

ISO’s world resulted in documented international agreements. The ISO 14001 is a series of international standards that defines the generic framework of an EMS approach. The global call for industries and organizations to undertake serious initiatives that will promote environmentally sustainable development has made ISO 14001 relevant to business and organizations today. Consumers are also becoming aware that ISO 14001 compliance indicates corporate and/or institutional environmental commitment.

With the awarding of the ISO 14001 certification to EMB, it is expected that the established environmental management programs and resource conservation efforts within the Bureau shall be sustained and enhanced. Continual improvement of environmental management programs is an essential factor in all companies and organizations certified to ISO 14001.