Participants pose for a group photo during the Orientation on Accreditation of Certification Bodies for Persons Based on ISO/IEC 17024:2012 on June 27, 2019 held at Kalayaan Hall, Level III, St. Giles Hotel Makati, Makati Avenue, Corner Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City.

The Philippine economy which posted a 6.1% growth in the fourth quarter of 2018 is largely driven by the service sector as the largest contributor to the GDP (56.2%), followed by Industry (34.8%), and Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing (8.9%).   In recognition of the contribution of the service sector, Department Order 18-101 was issued on 30 July 2018 with the approval by DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez of the implementation of the accreditation scheme on certification of persons to enable certification bodies, suppliers of services and other stakeholders to take advantage of the benefits of the recognition of equivalence of professions, skills and occupation anywhere.

On June 27, 2019, the Department of Trade and Industry – Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) conducted an orientation on accreditation of certification bodies based on ISO/IEC 17024 at Kalayaan Hall, Level III, St. Giles Hotel Makati, Makati Ave., Cor., Kalayaan Ave., Makati City. It was attended by sixty (60) participants from certification bodies, government agencies, HR practitioners, employers and employees. Competitiveness and Innovation Group Assistant Secretary Mary Jean T. Pacheco graced the event and welcomed the participants as she urged them to seek accreditation from PAB.

ISO/IEC 17024 is a standard that will serve as a guide in enhancing the ability of employees to apply knowledge, skills and attributes. Whether you are an organization providing personal training program or a business aiming to enhance competencies of your employees, ISO/IEC 17024 is the international standard to strengthen the competence and build capability of your manpower.

The accreditation of certification bodies for persons based on ISO/IEC 17024:2012 – Conformity assessment – General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons harmonizes the various procedures and requirements in certifying the competence of personnel in different professions. This helps ensure that persons will be certified in accordance with internationally accepted skills and qualifications. The event provided the participants with the knowledge that the certification of persons is one means of providing assurance that the certified person meets the requirements of the certification scheme.

In the Philippines, the DTI-PAB is the national accreditation body that handles the accreditation of inspection bodies, certification bodies, calibration and testing laboratories including medical testing laboratories, and other bodies offering conformity assessment services. To date, DTI-PAB has accredited a total of 243 conformity assessment bodies (CABs) that include 166 testing laboratories, 46 calibration laboratories, 7 medical laboratories, 8 inspection bodies and 16 certification bodies. For more information about PAB and its services, please visit www.dti.gov.ph/pab or you contact the telephone number 895-39-95 or email via pab@dti.gov.ph.