Upon undergoing an external quality audit last February 8, 2023, TÜV Rheinland, a qualified ISO certifying body, recently released its official audit results last Thursday, March 30, 2023. Engr. Francisco R. Barquilla, Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations of DOST-CALABARZON and Quality Core Team Leader expressed his joy upon receiving the results. “I am really satisfied with the results as it manifests the agency’s commitment to quality as it delivers its services to its customers,” ARD Barquilla said, “It also reflects the internalization of the workforce with its processes, policies and resources which resulted to efficiency and productivity.” The said audit examined DOST-CALABARZON’s compliance with the standard in terms of its scientific and technology transfer services, science promotion, science and technology information dissemination, and science and technology scholarships. The scope of the certification includes DOST-CALABARZON’s Regional Office and its five (5) Provincial S&T Offices (PSTOs). Ms. Diane Zapata-Ulan, Science Research Specialist II and the designated Internal Quality Audit (IQA) Head of DOST-CALABARZON emphasized the crucial role that both internal and external audits play in ensuring the effectiveness of an organization’s system. According to Ms. Ulan, a Quality Management System (QMS) is a set of policies, processes, and procedures an organization puts in place to ensure that it consistently meets or exceeds customer requirements and expectations. A QMS includes internal and external audits, essential tools for monitoring the system’s effectiveness and ensuring it functions correctly. Ms. Ulan remarked, “Both internal and external audits play a crucial role in an organization’s operations and public service delivery,” she continued, ”A QMS with regular internal and external audits can help an organization achieve its goals, improve its operations, and deliver high-quality public services.” DOST-CALABARZON is committed to continuously develop and enhance its QMS. ARD Barquilla mentioned that various feedbacks from stakeholders and customers can provide insights on the organization’s impact in terms of its services and products. “By monitoring our key performance indicators, managing risks and opportunities, we are able to sustain DOST-CALABARZON’s high performance and cultivate innovativeness in the workplace,” ARD Barquilla said.

Note to editors: DOST-CALABARZON is one of the regional offices of the Department of Science and Technology and is located at