By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The city government of Iloilo aims to secure international quality certification by 2025 as part of its commitment to building a strong quality management system that benefits customers, employees, and stakeholders.
The city is preparing to engage accredited assessors to obtain ISO 9001:2015 certification within the year.
“We’re planning to get accredited assessors, and while the timeline will depend on mutual agreements with the certifying body, we’re confident it will happen within 2025,” said Atty. Rudiver Jungco Jr., assistant department head II of the City Human Resource Management Office.
ISO 9001:2015 certification ensures that an organization has clearly defined processes, trained personnel, and systems for continuous improvement to deliver reliable public services.
This move follows the city’s successful completion of a Readiness Assessment for developing its Quality Management System.
The assessment confirmed that the city’s systems and services meet the requirements for ISO 9001:2015 certification, a globally recognized standard for efficient, accountable, and consistent service delivery.
“It speaks volumes of our efforts and systems that function effectively and are ready to meet international standards of quality, accountability, and efficiency,” Mayor Jerry Treñas said in a statement.
Iloilo City underwent the assessment through its participation in the Government Quality Management Program, a national initiative supported by the Development Academy of the Philippines.
The city was one of six pilot local government units selected nationwide in 2024.
As part of the program, Iloilo City formed a technical working group that underwent extensive training and developed a quality policy to guide its QMS.
The city has adopted the “Plan, Do, Check, Act” cycle to support continuous improvement and address governance issues such as inefficiencies, unclear processes, and a lack of performance audits.
“This system makes our operations more efficient,” Jungco said.
“It helps eliminate bureaucratic delays, identify process gaps, and apply corrective actions through regular reviews.”
He added that the city now uses motion studies to identify which steps cause delays and plans improvements accordingly.
Treñas emphasized that the initiative reflects the city’s commitment to “institutional excellence.”
He said every action—whether in health, education, infrastructure, or community welfare—must be grounded in transparency, consistency, and a heart for public service.
