In compliance to the ISO 9001:2015 requirements, the Municipality of Bauang conducted it’s Management Review (MR) on March 21, 2025 at the Rosebowl Steakhouse and Restaurant. This is in preparation for the upcoming Re-Certification audit of the Municipality on April 2025 by the 3rd Party certifying body NQA Philippines, Inc. The MR is a regular evaluation exercise where the performance of the Quality Management System (QMS) is reviewed to check if the systems are producing the desired results.

Municipal Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin P. De Guzman III, Quality Management System (QMS) Chairperson, Hon. Tanya Roberta A. De Guzman, Sangguniang Bayan Member (SBM) and QMS Co-Chairperson, and Municipal Vice Mayor Henry A. Bacurnay, Jr., delivered their messages in the event, exemplifying the leadership qualities expected of their roles.

SBM Tanya De Guzman notably reminded heads and employees to do better from each MR and give Bauang residents the quality public service they deserve. VM Bacurnay highlighted the importance of questions for the improvement of a system. Mayor Martin De Guzman emphasized that Bauang needs to be on the right track and that the whole team needs to work together to sustain its ISO Certification.

Municipal officials, department heads, and focal persons discussed the highlights of the previous MR, and the vital parts of management (ISO Audit Results, budget, resources, etc.) from the previous semester of 2024.

Specifically, the reports were delivered by Mr. James Andrew L. Patacsil, QMS Leader and Municipal Accountant; Ms. Florence B. Rulloda, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (MPDC); Ms. Marvin A. Sandaga-Subala, Head for Human Resources and Management Office (HRMO), Ms. Divina Gracia Panelo, QMS Secretariat; Ms. Marlyn M. Jimenez, Internal Quality Audit (IQA) Team Head; Ms. Loida Costales, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairperson; and Engr. Lourdes Gapasin, General Services Officer.

In the afternoon, 24 departments presented at least one (1) objective or process in their respective departments, and their corresponding accomplishments for the last semester.

To close the program, Engr. Donna Lorna G. Oca, QMS Secretariat, led the reading of the Quality Policy. Hon. Felix P. Sanchez, SBM, provided the closing message where he said that ups and downs cannot be dodged. Something gets replaced each time, for the improvement of systems.

The ISO Certification of Bauang, done every three years, required Bauang to conduct MRs at least twice a year. The ISO Certification also required an Internal Quality Audit (IQA) Team composed of department focal persons, and an External Quality Audit (EQA) Team composed of Bauang’s third-party audit partner, the NQA Philippines, Inc. The ISO Certification ensures that the Quality Management System (QMS), the system in place that governs the policies of Bauang, work well and is given proper criticism where need be, ensuring quality public service for Bauang residents.

Written by: Korina Esteban-Ma
Photographed by: Cris Jaime A. Balbuena