BI Retains ISO Certification

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has retained its International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification in recognition of its continued efforts to improve the quality of its services to the passenger and transacting public.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente announced that the BI successfully hurdled a two-day ISO surveillance audit conducted by experts from Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) in the Philippines who affirmed the bureau’s compliance with organizational practices and standards required to maintain its ISO status.

“Congratulations to the men and women of the BI for a job well done. This proves that we remain focused on our goal to provide the most efficient, innovative and effective Immigration services to our clientele,” Morente said in a statement.

The BI chief disclosed that for satisfactorily hurdling the surveillance audit, the bureau’s ISO 9001:2015 certification stays and, depending on the results next year’s audit, could remain valid until November 2022 when it is up for renewal.

“The certification shows that we continued to provide our clients with quality performance and services that are globally competitive and conforms with internationally recognized processes and standards,” Morente added.

A primer on the ISO states that ISO 9001:2015 is the most popular and sought after of all ISO certifications.

“The standard requires an organization to put up a Quality Management System (QMS) that is customer-focused and puts emphasis on continuously improving top management practices throughout the agency,” said BI Deputy Commissioner Aldwin Alegre, who supervises the administrative affairs of the bureau.

Alegre said passing the exhaustive ISO surveillance audit last Sept. 7-8 is a “product of the hard work, sleepless nights, blood, sweat, and tears” of the bureau’s ISO teams and personnel of all the offices that were audited.

It will be recalled that the BI first obtained its ISO certification 9001:2008 in 2016 and it was the first among the agencies attached to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to be ISO-certified. It successfully transitioned to ISO 9001:2015 in 2018.

The ISO certification initially covered its services and operations in the three terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the extension of stay for temporary visitors’ visa.

Source: Bureau of Immigration

For further information, please contact:

Nelirene "NELI" M. Dablio
Certification and Business Enhancement
Marketing Manager, Learning Services Manager (Food)
m: +63 (917) 584 94 64
www.sgs.ph

ABOUT SGS

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.