Cargo handlers aim for ISO certification

CEBU, Philippines - In their goal to improve the cargo handling industry and to be globally competitive, cargo handlers in the Visayas convene with a management system consultant towards the International Organization for Standardization accreditation.

With a few number of companies taking up ISO certification process, AGF Consulting Group – Philippines Chief Executive Officer Jong Fernandez emphasized the significance of such accreditation to cargo handlers towards competitiveness and productivity.

To be better cargo handlers, he added that ISO certification will help them create a quantifiable benchmark, adopt the best practices by other countries, improve compliance, eliminate environment, health and safety risks and meet stakeholders’ requirements.

Standards to be institutionalized in the cargo-handling industry includes ISO 9001:2008 or Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001:2004 or Environmental Management Systems and ISO 180012007 or Occupational Health and Safety.

He said that it is already a mandate of the industry from the government to align themselves in these three standards for them to develop high-level business models towards productivity.

“ISO accreditation would definitely improve their services for their clients. While they render quality service and utilize resources responsibly, they take care of their people as they ensure them to work in a safe and healthy environment,” he said.

Currently working out on four cargo-handling companies in Visayas alone for ISO accreditation, he noted that lack of awareness and cost involvement are one of the underlying factors why there are only a few number of companies taking up the certification process.

“As of now, there is really nothing yet. There is still very, very few taking up. But it doesn’t mean that they don’t want to do it,’ he said during the 1st Visayas Quality, Environment, Health and Safety Forum for Cargo-Handling Operations Management Excellence at Cebu Parklane Hotel.

With a six-month timeline that can take longer or shorter, Fernandez said AGF will work hand in hand with cargo handlers in developing and customizing the system, auditing their operations, endorsing them to the ISO certification body and assisting them in the maintenance of an excellent performance in the succeeding years.

Meanwhile, Port Manager – Iloilo Winfred Elizalde said that ISO accreditation has been the thrust of the Philippine Port Authority, seeking to improve its operations as globally-competitive.

He added that ports in the Philippines such as Iloilo, Tagbilaran, Ormoc, Tacloban, and Cagayan de Oro will soon be accredited by Partnership in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia, an ISO-certified regional partnership program.

“This is all about survival. If we like our ports to be world-class, we have to strive to become accredited. We can compete in any market all over the world with no barriers at all,” he said during an interview.

He further said that with the assistance of PEMSEAS, 5 more ports in the Philippines will be ISO-certified within 2015.

ISO, derived from the Greek word “isos” meaning equal, is a worldwide federation of 140 country members responsible for international standards developed globally across all industries in which Philippines has an active involvement in research and development standards. (FREEMAN)