As our QMS improvement continues, the Department of Labor and Employment-Region 9 takes initial step on the transition of ISO 9001:2008 to 2015 through the conduct of anOrientation on ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) on February 4, 2016 at Lantaka Hotel by the Sea, Zamboanga City, to twenty (20) DOLE 9 management and QMS team members.

It aims to ensure relevance and resilient service delivery to both our clients and partners. The activity formally started with a message from Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano, reiterating the same purpose which is to provide understanding of the new version of ISO 9001:2015 to ensure continuity, sustainability, and effectiveness of the QMS in order to have better relationship with our clients thru quality service.

Mr. Renato V. Navarrete, Managing Director of the Certification International-Philippines Inc. facilitated the said orientation highlighting pertinent revisions of ISO 9001:2015 as against the 2008 version. As presented, the 2015 version consists of 10 clauses, 7 of which are major, following a Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) approach.

"Generally, the 2015 version of the Quality Management System is linked with risk-based focus on planning", said Mr. Navarrete in one of the discussions. He also said that the true meaning of QMS is having sustainability in the delivery of services that even when the administration changes, the system remains.

In closing, ARD Yahya Centi expressed his gratitude to the facilitator from CIP for the inputs and as well as to the participants for having actively participated in the discussions.