Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 802)
The main purpose is to strengthen and recognize the Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO) attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the national accreditation body in the Philippines.
The Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO) is strengthened and recognized pursuant to Section 13 of Republic Act No. 9236, also known as the National Metrology Act of 2003.
The Philippine Accreditation Office is attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The PAO is responsible for accrediting inspection, testing and certifying bodies, and other bodies offering conformity assessment services needed by the country.
The PAO Council is chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry and composed of ten members: seven from the government sector and three from the private sector.
The government sector in the PAO Council is represented by the heads or authorized representatives (at least Undersecretary) of the following departments: Science and Technology, Health, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Public Works and Highways, Energy, and National Defense.
The three members from the private sector are appointed by the President from among Trade or Industry Associations, Quality and Safety Foundations, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Professional Associations, or the Academe.
The DTI acts as the PAO Council Secretariat, ensuring coordination among Council members and the implementation of centralized facilitation, processing, and release of accreditations.
Funding for the PAO is included in the annual appropriations of the DTI, and government entities seeking international recognition accreditation from PAO must provide their own funds for this purpose.
Laboratories already accredited by other government agencies are given one year from the effective date of this Order to seek accreditation from PAO against applicable international standards.
ISO/IEC 17011:2004, effective January 1, 2006, necessitated the creation of a centralized accrediting office independent of BPS.
Section 31, Chapter 10, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987 grants the President the continuing power to reorganize the Executive Branch of government.
All executive orders, rules, regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Order are revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.
The Order took effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a national newspaper of general circulation.