DFA Receives ISO 9001:2015 Certification

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano (second from left) receives the ISO 9001:2015 certification from TÜV Rheinland Philippines Managing Director Tristan Arwen G. Loveres (second from right).  Joining them in this photo are (from left) Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Jose Luis G. Montales and OIC-Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Administration Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega. (DFA photo)

04 September 2018 — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in its commitment to continually improve its quality management system, officially received the ISO 9001:2015 certification from TÜV Rheinland on 29 August 2018.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano received the certification from TÜV Rheinland Philippines Managing Director Tristan Arwen Loveres in ceremonies held that day at the DFA Auditorium. 

The DFA attained its first ISO certification under the ISO 9001:2008 standard in 2016, with the Authentication Division at its Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) in Aseana (DFA-Aseana) as the core process, and authentication-related offices in the Home Office as support.

In 2017, under the subsidy of the Government Quality Management Committee and with guidance from the Development Academy of the Philippines, dedicated DFA personnel worked on the DFA-QMS’ successful transition from ISO 9001:2008 to the ISO 9001:2015 standard. Further, the DFA expanded its QMS to include the regular passport process in DFA-Aseana and the authentication and passport services of DFA NCR West in SM Manila.

The DFA aims to consistently improve the quality of its services, enhance its facilities for more comfort and address client concerns and feedback without undue delay. In addition, through this exercise, the DFA was able to identify the need for better accessibility and will be opening additional consular offices around the country and increasing the roll-out of its Passport-on-Wheels service.

With the ISO 9001:2015 certification, the DFA, under the direction of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and leadership of Secretary Cayetano, endeavors to create an environment of excellence by having well-defined and regularly-reviewed procedures that are responsive to client needs and conform to international standards. END