RECEIVING the certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the “exclamation point to a good year” for Vice President Leni Robredo and her office.
The Office of the Vice-President (OVP), under the leadership of Robredo, was formally awarded its ISO 9001:2015 certification on Thursday morning, December 28, following a full year of preparation and an audit conducted by international certification body TÜV Rheinland this month.
“Ngayong taon nakamtan natin iyong ating aspiration na magkaroon ng ISO certification, pero sa susunod na taon, iyong aspiration natin, patuloy na paghusayin at patuloy na makamtan iyong consistency sa ating serbisyo. (This year we were able to achieve our aspiration to get an ISO certification, but for next year, we will continue to aspire for excellence and consistency in our services),” the Vice President said during the awarding ceremony, held at the Quezon City Reception House.
The OVP applied for the ISO certification for Quality Management Systems in a bid to streamline the processes for better services to the public. This makes the office one of the handful of national government agencies to receive the certification under the latest ISO standards.
The accreditation comes amid a string of successes for the OVP, including the expansion of its flagship anti-poverty program, Angat Buhay, which now has ground on more than 170 communities around the country. On its first year, the OVP—through the help of its private partners—extended some P145-million worth of assistance, which reached 83,807 Filipino families.
As the initiative marked its first anniversary, the office launched its sister program called Angat Kabuhayan, which aims to focus on providing more job and livelihood opportunities that match areas in need, as well as promoting inclusive business models there.
Robredo continued to stay true to her inaugural promise to reach out to the poorest, farthest, and smallest communities, with various visits made around the country—from far-flung areas and provinces, to poor areas in Metro Manila, where the OVP brought various services under its Metro Laylayan program.
In these trips, the Vice President also introduced Istorya ng Pag-asa, a program that aims to promote stories of hope and inspiration amid these challenging times. From a travelling photo gallery that features stories of ordinary Filipinos who rose above adversities, INP now has a film festival that is open to the public, including first-time filmmakers.
Steady survey rise
Amid all these, Robredo also saw a steady rise in surveys over the past year.
The Vice President extends her gratitude to the public for its continued support and trust, and vows to continue striving for excellence in serving the people.
“Ito kasing mga surveys, ito iyong pulso ng ating mga kababayan, kaya parati tayong nakikinig kung ano iyong ginagawa natin na ina-affirm ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya iyong latest survey, masaya tayo na patuloy na umaakyat. (We see this as the pulse of what our people value, and we continue to listen to this. We’re glad about our steady rise in the surveys),” she said. (PR)