first online meeting BPS TC21
BPS/TC 21’s first virtual meeting on June 05, 2020

In compliance to the order of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), prohibiting in-person gatherings while the country is under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) conducted its first two (2) virtual Technical Committee (TC) meetings via Zoom Teleconferencing last May 04 & 07, 2020. The DTI-BPS plans to conduct all TC meetings online going forward as the world shifts to the “New Normal” amid the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Under the “New Normal” face-to-face meetings are not advisable.

The May 04 meeting by the BPS Technical Committee (TC) on Electrical Installations and Protection against Electric Shock (BPS/TC 77) was initiated in preparation for the TC’s participation in the subsequent meeting of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Technical Committee on Electrical Installations and Protection against Electric Shock (IEC/TC 64). On the other hand, the May 07 meeting by the TC on Rotating Machinery (BPS/TC 58) discussed the TC’s work program for 2020 and the documents being circulated by the IEC/TC 2 on Rotating Machinery.

Technical Committee (TC) meetings are essential in the development of Philippine National Standards (PNS). These meetings are typically conducted in person and are regularly facilitated by the DTI-BPS’ Standards Development Division (BPS-SDD).  As of September 2019, the DTI-BPS has established a total of 86 TCs for various products, 55 of which are active. These TCs are composed of experts representing the academe, consumer groups, trade industry professionals, government agencies, research institutions, and testing institutions in the country.

“The DTI-BPS has been continuously innovating itself to improve and modernize the services it delivers to the public.”, states DTI- BPS Director Neil P. Catajay. “Before COVID-19, the DTI-BPS was able to develop the Product Certification Information Management System (PCIMS) (www.qualityproducts.dti.gov.ph) and the Philippine National Standards (PNS) Catalogue in the BPS Standards and Conformance Portal (www.bps.dti.gov.ph). The DTI-BPS is pleased and proud that because of these useful online tools, our frontline services were generally unhampered since day one of the implementation of the community quarantine. In view of this, we assure our partners and clients of constant innovation in our processes, not only to keep up with technology but to make sure that we are able to provide the best service possible, with or without a pandemic.”

For updates and more information on the DTI-BPS, please visit the Standards and Conformance Portal www.bps.dti.gov.ph and follow our social media pages. For inquiries, please email the DTI-BPS through its official email address: bps@dti.gov.ph.♦

Date of Release: 8 June 2020