In photo: Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) Engineering Students and BPS Experts during the first day of STRACAP Caravan

Pampanga, Philippines—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) successfully launched its first-ever Standards, Technical Regulations, and Conformity Assessment Procedures (STRACAP) Caravan in Bacolor and San Fernando City. The event aimed to educate aspiring engineers and empower local industry stakeholders and consumers.

Organized by the DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), in collaboration with DTI Region 3 and DTI Pampanga, the event provided valuable insights into the importance of standards and technical regulations.

“By extending our information drive and services beyond the metro and into the regions, we are expanding our horizon to make expert knowledge and resources accessible to every corner of the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’,” said DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque.

“As new products and practices continue to emerge, our mandate is to proactively broaden our reach and keep the public well-informed of critical policy updates. This effort ensures that we remain relevant, responsive, and capable of addressing the evolving needs of our stakeholders, particularly our future experts in standards and conformity assessment—comprising the youth, industry players, retailers and consumers,” the trade chief added.

The caravan began with STRACAP 101, where DTI-BPS experts emphasized the role of standards in safeguarding product safety, integrity, and market competitiveness. This session strengthened the DTI’s engagement with the local community and raised awareness of the Department’s initiatives.

Moreover, students actively participated in hands-on workshops and lectures led by DTI-BPS experts. These sessions focused on key topics such as standards development, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures.

During the event, copies of the Philippine National Standards (PNS) were available for purchase to support the participants’ continued learning.

In photo: DTI-BPS Experts together with DTI Region 3 and DTI Pampanga during the second day of BPS STRACAP Caravan

On the first day, the caravan engaged 134 engineering students and faculty members from Don Honorio Ventura State University. Meanwhile, 60 local industry stakeholders, retailers, and DTI personnel attended the public session on the second day.

The STRACAP Caravan concluded with an open forum that allowed participants to raise questions and share feedback on BPS services. This fostered collaborative discussions between stakeholders and the Bureau.

The DTI-BPS serves as the National Standards Body authorized to promulgate Philippine National Standards (PNS). These standards are voluntary and can be used as reference materials by any interested parties. Either in full or in part, compliance with PNS becomes mandatory only when cited in technical regulations issued by regulatory authorities.

For the latest updates and information on standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures (STRACAP), visit the BPS website at www.bps.dti.gov.ph or the official BPS Facebook page at DTIPH.Standards. Emails may also be sent to bps@dti.gov.ph. For other concerns, send an email to ReportToSec@dti.gov.ph. ♦

Date of release: 24 December 2024