Bohol LGU gets ISO certification

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — A global network of offices for certification for quality environment services, based in the United Kingdom, has granted an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certificate to the Bohol provincial government for complying with the strict requirements of the agency.

The Registration Certification of ISO 14001:2004 was received by Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto an hour after he delivered his state of the province address (SOPA) Friday morning, thus the news about the ISO certificate was not covered in his speech.

AJA Registrars Limited of the UK issued the ISO certificate after it reviewed the practices of the Bohol provincial government.  

"ISO 14001:2004 specifies requirements for an environmental management system to enable an organization to develop and implement a policy and objectives which take into account legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and information about significant environmental aspects," according to the ISO's official online site.

It added that the certification "applies to those environmental aspects that the organization identifies as those which it can control and those which it can influence."

The scope of certification covered are the Office of the Governor, Provincial Offices of Human Resources Management and Development, Legal, Planning and Development, General Services, Motorpool, Engineer's, Treasurer's, Budget and Management, Assessor's, Accountant's, Agriculturist, Veterinarian, Health, Social and Welfare Development, Bohol Environment Management, Bohol Tourism, Bohol Investment Promotion Center and Bohol Employment and Placement.

Also covered are the Provincial Board, composed of the Vice Governor's Office, Secretariat, Legislative and Bohol Provincial Library and Information Center.

Certificate No. AJA 14/17032 is valid from January 23, 2014 to May 12, 2016.

The ISO agency said "ISO 14001:2004 is applicable to any organization that wishes to establish, implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system, to assure itself of conformity with its stated environmental policy, and to demonstrate conformity" with its certifying standards.

Chatto yesterday told The Freeman: "Bohol was awarded by the DILG in 2011 and 2012 as the Best Governed Province in the Philippines, and with this ISO certificate, it gives us an affirmation that we are doing the right ways in good governance."

He added the ISO certification is a result of the collective efforts of all officials, staff, and employees of the provincial government who believe in what he called "shared leadership" style.  (FREEMAN)