Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) is preparing to receive its International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification for the fifth year in a row by conducting its annual Awareness Orientation on ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) to all units at the PFDA – Central Office (CO) on June 14, 2023. 

Led by the PFDA Quality Management Representative (QMR) Ms. Gina J. Reyes, the orientation aims to review and refresh the knowledge of all PFDA employees of the basic concepts of QMS.

In her opening message, Ms. Reyes encouraged everyone to listen to the presenters actively. She urged all employees to “do our share and participate in our own work and work areas so we can all understand these QMS procedures and ensure that we will get our fifth ISO recertification.” 

For the first presentation, Mr. Miguel M. Pilarta of the Education and Training Team presented an overview of the ISO 9001:2015 and the PFDA QMS. He then gave a quick recap of the 2022 Orientation, followed by the preparations for the upcoming 2023 Audit and the ISO Roadmap 2023.

Mr. Miguel M. Pilarta, Ms. Christal Era M. Datahan, and Mr. Thadeus A. Mariano as main facilitators of this year's Awareness Orientation on ISO 9001:2015

 Afterward, Mr. Thadeus A. Mariano, Head of the Documented Information Team, talked about the quality procedure for documented information. He encouraged everyone to work together to enhance and improve quality procedures, standard operational instructions, policies and manuals, and other enrolled documents of the Agency. 

Lastly, Ms. Christal Era M. Datahan, Head of the Quality Workplace Team, discussed the key benefits of implementing the 5S (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) in achieving a Quality Workplace.

To close the orientation, PFDA Deputy QMR Mr. Eric M. Sims thanked everyone who attended today’s activity. He believes the PFDA needs this awareness orientation to showcase that the PFDA can continuously work on an international standard level. “Let us be proactive for our continual improvement. If we work together, we can achieve our goal. We will soon realize our objectives and be recertified with flying colors,” Mr. Sims said. 

 The PFDA is expecting to have its third-party surveillance audit by the TÜV Rheinland in September 2023. 

(Mark Angelo N. Perez – Public Information Division)