Mla. Times, May 29, 2009/Standard Today, June 22, 2009
WHEREAS, Sec. 13 of RA
9236, or
“The National Metrology Act of 2003”
strengthens and recognizes the laboratory accrediting body attached to
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the national accrediting
body;
WHEREAS, the Bureau of
Product Standards of the DTI assumed the laboratory accrediting
function, in addition to its standards development and certification
functions.
WHEREAS, pursuant to
ISO/IEC 17011:2004 which became effective on 01 January 2006, a
centralized accrediting office independent from BPS needs to be
created;
WHEREAS, Section 31,
Chapter 10, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987 grants the
President the continuing power to reorganize the Executive Branch of
government;
NOW THEREFORE, I, GLORIA
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me, do hereby
order:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to
Section 13 of RA 9236, the Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO), which
shall be attached to the DTI, is hereby strengthened and recognized as
the national accreditation body. It shall be the central body to
accredit inspection, testing and certifying bodies, and other bodies
offering conformity assessment services needed by the
country.
SECTION 2. The PAO
Council, to be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Trade and
Industry, is hereby created to give policy advice and provide guidance
to PAO. The Council shall have ten (10) members, seven (7) from the
government sector and three (3) from the private
sector.
The government sector shall be represented
by the heads of the following departments or agencies or their
authorized representatives, who must be at least an
Undersecretary:
- Department of
Science and Technology
- Department of
Health
- Department of
Agriculture
- Department of Environment and
Natural Resources
- Department of Public
Works and Highways
- Department of
Energy
- Department of National
Defense
The members from the private
sector shall be appointed by the President from any of following: Trade
or Industry Association, Quality and Safety Foundation, Philippine
Exporter’s Confederation, Professional Association, or the
Academe.
The Council is authorized to create the
necessary Advisory Committees where other stakeholders are given
opportunity to provide inputs in the formulation of accreditation
policies.
SECTION 3. The DTI
shall act as the PAO Council Secretariat. It shall ensure the immediate
coordination among members of the Council and the implementation of a
centralized facilitation, processing and release of
accreditations.
SECTION 4.
Funding requirement that will enable PAO to pursue and implement its
mandate shall be included in the annual appropriations of the
Department of Trade and Industry. Government entities that seek
accreditation from PAO for purposes of international recognition shall
provide funds for said purpose.
SECTION
5. Laboratories that have already been accredited by other
government agencies shall be given one year from effective date of this
Order within which to seek accreditation against applicable
international standards from PAO.
SECTION
6. All executive orders, rules and regulations and other
issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Order are
hereby revoked, amended, or modified
accordingly.
SECTION 7. This
Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a
national newspaper of general
circulation.
DONE in the City of
Manila, this 18
th day of May, in the year of Our
Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.
(Sgd.) GLORIA M.
ARROYO
By the
President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R.
ERMITAExecutive
Secretary