KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — The Provincial Government of South Cotabato (PGSC) has successfully passed the Stage 1 Audit of the ISO 9001:2015 Certification process, bringing the province one step closer to achieving internationally recognized standards for quality public service.
Grace Maniego, Internal Auditor IV and Provincial ISO Program In-Charge, said the Stage 1 Audit, also known as the Documentation Adequacy Audit, was conducted remotely to assess the Provincial Government’s Quality Management System (QMS).
Maria Luisa Sitchon, Lead Auditor of TÜV NORD Philippines, Inc., the third-party certification body, led the audit.
“The Provincial Government has been recommended to proceed to the Stage 2 Audit, which will evaluate the actual implementation and effectiveness of its quality management system in delivering government services,” Maniego confirmed.
Following the audit, the Certification Body confirmed that PGSC’s QMS documentation is adequate, complete, and compliant with ISO 9001:2015 requirements.
“Passing the Stage 1 Audit confirms that our systems are aligned with international quality standards. As we prepare for the next phase, we remain committed to translating these standards into better, more efficient, and more reliable services for every South Cotabateño,” Maniego, explained.
Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO) Head Fredaliza Gazo acknowledged that while the undertaking was challenging, the strong support of the provincial leadership, the cooperation of all offices, the Internal Audit Unit serving as the Quality Management Representative (QMR) Secretariat, and ISO consultant Jose Teodosio enabled the province to successfully complete the Stage 1 audit.
“Our journey toward ISO certification started with Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr.’s vision of ensuring that both the administrative and technical processes of the Provincial Government of South Cotabato meet internationally recognized quality standards,” Gazo shared.
With this milestone achieved, the provincial government is now focusing on preparations for the Stage 2 audit, the final step toward obtaining ISO 9001:2015 QMS Certification.
The milestone reflects the Provincial Government’s continuing commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement under the leadership of Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr., ensuring that public services remain efficient, responsive, and centered on the needs of South Cotabateños.
Once completed, the ISO 9001:2015 certification will further strengthen the Provincial Government’s efforts to deliver quality governance and improve public trust through consistent and effective service delivery.
