The BSWM is Recertified under ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System)

On November 25, 2021, the BSWM underwent Recertification Audit for its implementation of ISO 9001:2015 or Quality Management System (QMS). Indeed, it was a victorious day as the BSWM retained its ISO 9001 Certification and for the first time, with Zero Non-conformity! Indeed, it was overwhelming and made everyone feel grateful and great!

The BSWM, by the grace of God and through the hard work of its Blessed and Strong Women and Men, became ISO 9001 Certified in 2019. Since then and for the succeeding years, annual Surveillance Audits were conducted. Due to the restrictions brought about by the pandemic, remote audit was done last year and for this year as well. A key requirement has been stable internet connection along with appropriate digital platforms, which was ably addressed by the Geomatics Division headed by Mr. Bertolio Arellano.

This 2021, the Road to ISO 9001 Recertification (and Zero Nonconformity) was not easy as a walk in the park, yet it felt breezy and exciting! It opened up well-spring of opportunities and resulted with simplified procedures, documentation, and record information, as well as deeper appreciation of the QMS by the BSWM employees.

Under the leadership of Dr. Gina Nilo, QMS Leader and Ms. Jovette Tenorio, Assistant QMS Leader, the BSWM continued to advance its QMS implementation, thereby forging full cooperation with all process owners, through the following initiatives:

Simplified Quality Manual
A totally new document that is easier to read and comprehend, with the clear scope, quality policy, and other simplified requirements of the standard.
Restructured Quality Management Organization
This restructuring highlights the accountability of the owners to their respective processes, as well as the complementation and synergy of the Technical and Administrative groups. As such, two (2) Deputy Quality Managers were installed: for Technical Group – Engr. Phoebe Pua and for Administrative Group – Ms. Denise Solano. Overall focal persons and representatives for various QMS concerns were identified per process owner. Further, the Internal Quality Audit (IQA) Team was reconstituted to be headed by Ms. Nancy De Sagun.

Notably, Dr. Nilo is also the Quality Manager of the Laboratory Services Division for its ISO 17025 Accreditation which has already undergone two cycles (2016 – 2026). Banking on such expertise and experience, Dr. Nilo espoused the restructuring and integration of various QMS concerns in the regular operations of the process owners, to be reported and addressed in the Management Committee Meeting.
Conduct of Readiness Assessment
Aside from review of QMS implementation, this activity featured one-on-one coaching and customization of various forms and procedures.

All these initiatives and other related efforts reached fruition with the support from the BSWM Management. The present BSWM Director, Engr. Pablo Montalla, the Division/Center Chiefs, Admin Unit Heads and concerned staff made the success of Recertification Audit possible. Major contribution has also been provided by the BSWM QMS Specialist, Ms. Ivy Lyn Calisay.

The BSWM as the nationally-mandated agency on sustainable management of soil and water resources for agriculture, strives to maintain its QMS certification committed to provide excellent services for conservation and management of the country’s soil and water resources, and continually improve towards excellent customer satisfaction. The BSWM advocates “Lupa’t Tubig ay pag-ingatan at pangalagaan, tungo sa maunlad na agrikultura at kabuhayan”. The Recertification Audit provided several Opportunities for Improvement which the BSWM will seriously work on, particularly in its crafting of project implementation strategies and procedures.

For now, BSWM is still in high spirits for its QMS Recertification with zero non-conformity! Congratulations to the BSWM Family! God is good all the time! To God be all the glory!