DSWD service gets ISO certification

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s regulatory services for the accreditation of non-government organizations and private foundations bagged a certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

DSWD’s ISO 9001-2008 certification covers the five regulatory services under its Standards Bureau.

These are the Registration of Auxiliary Social Welfare and Development Agencies, the Registration and Licensing of Social Welfare Agencies (SWA), the Accreditation of SWAs’ Programs and Services, the Endorsement of Duty-Free Entry, and the National Authority to Conduct Fund Drives.

The Standards Bureau is responsible for fulfilling the regulatory and quality assurance roles of DSWD.

“After two rigorous audit stages, we are pleased that DSWD has successfully completed the requirements for certification,” Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said.

Soliman also said the DSWD would continue to streamline documentation and processing systems to provide smoother, faster and more efficient delivery of its frontline services.

The certification is valid for three years, from August 3, 2014 to July 19, 2017.

DSWD undersecretaries Angelita Gregorio-Medel and Parisya Taradji, and Standards Bureau director Marites Maristela received the certification from AJA Registrars, Inc. vice president Paul Bagatsing on Oct. 17 at the DSWD Central Office in Batasan, Quezon City.

ISO 9001:2008 sets out the criteria for a quality management system. It can be used by any organization regardless of its field of activity. It is implemented by over one million companies and organizations in over 170 countries.

This standard is based on a number of quality management principles, including strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement.