The Department of Trade and Industry – Philippine Accreditation Bureau (DTI-PAB) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Forest Management Bureau (DENR-FMB) convened to discuss the possible technical competencies and team structure of validation and verification bodies for the Carbon Accounting, Verification, and Certification System (CAVCS) and to identify the general content of a conformity assessment scheme for verification and validation.

The Carbon Accounting, Verification, and Certification System for Forest Carbon Projects was developed by the DENR through the Forest Management Bureau. The CAVCS is a system that aims to encourage investments and projects that sequester carbon or maintain carbon stocks. It also aims to recognize forest protection, reforestation, and other forest restoration activities by the private sector, government entities, and other organizations through the issuance of verified carbon certificate.

The orientation workshop was scheduled on 11 March 2021 via Zoom Video Conferencing. Validation and verification are two important concepts of CAVCS that safeguards the reliability and quality of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions or removal claimed by a forest carbon project.

To provide clearer understanding about accreditation of GHG Verification and Validation Bodies, Ms. Ma. Juanita Carpio of the Management System Accreditation Division (MSAD) of the Philippine Accreditation Bureau, discussed the system of validating/verifying bodies. Her presentation also included the accreditation requirements and the identification of some of the challenges and opportunities. One of the opportunities mentioned was increase in the number of accreditation schemes wherein Ms. Carpio stressed that even though PAB has no accreditation scheme for GHG verification and validation for forestry sector, the development of this scheme will add to PAB’s portfolio and eventually increase the number of accredited CABs in the future. A short overview of the Bureau’s functions and accreditation process was also presented during the orientation workshop by Ms. Sheena De La Torre of the PAB – Promotion and Documentation Division.

One of the key takeaways of the orientation workshop included comprehensible knowledge about accreditation of GHG verification and validation bodies and its process. This will result in the revision or update of the CAVCS manuals developed by the DENR-FMB and in return, DTI-PAB also wanted to be involved in the capability activities of FMB and the participation of experts from the forestry sector.

The Forest Management Bureau of the DENR is a responsive forest service organization of competent professionals providing quality service and leadership in the sustainable management of forest resources.

On the other hand, DTI-PAB is the national accreditation body, mandated to accredit certification and inspection bodies, testing including medical, and calibration laboratories, and other bodies offering conformity assessment services. PAB is a signatory to the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) for Quality Management System (QMS) and Environmental Management System (EMS) of Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) and International Accreditation Forum (IAF), and to the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for testing, calibration, medical and inspection bodies of APAC and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).

To know more about PAB’s accreditation services, please visit www.dti.gov.ph/pab. For more information about FMB’s projects and programs, please visit forestry.denr.gov.ph.

Release Date: 18 March 2021