PGMA creates PAO to strengthen DTI accreditation power

By Joel C. Atencio

MANILA, Jun 2 (PNA) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has created the Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO) to strengthen the accreditation power of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) over all business establishments nationwide.

President Arroyo, in her Executive Order 802 entitled “Strengthening and Recognizing the PAO to DTI as national accreditation body,” dated May 18, 2009, tasked the PAO to accredit inspection, testing and certifying bodies, and other bodies offering conformity assessment services needed by the country.

”The PAO council, to be chaired by DTI Secretary Peter Favila, is hereby created to give policy advice and provide guidance to PAO. The council shall have 10 members, seven from the government sector and three from the private sector,” Arroyo said.

The government sector will be represented by a representative or undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Energy (DoE) and Department of National Defense (DND).

Members of the private sector will be appointed by the President from the organizations of trade or industry association, quality and safety foundation, Philippine Exporter’s Confederation, Professional Association or the Academe.

The council is authorized to create the necessary advisory committees where other stakeholders are given opportunity to provide inputs in the formulation of accreditation policies.

Under EO 802, the DTI will act as the PAO Council Secretariat. It will ensure the immediate coordination among members of the Council and the implementation of a centralized facilitation, processing and release of accreditations.

The funding requirement of the PAO will be included in the annual appropriations of DTI. Government entities that seek accreditation from PAO for purposes of international recognition will provide funds for said purpose.

Mrs. Arroyo also said the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) of DTI assumed the laboratory accrediting function, in addition to its standards development and certification functions.

The PAO was created pursuant to International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 17011:2004 provision that became effective on Jan. 1, 2006. (PNA)