Law Summary
Creation of the PAO Council and Its Composition
- A PAO Council is established to provide policy advice and guidance to the PAO.
- The Council is chaired by the Secretary of the DTI.
- It consists of ten members: seven government representatives and three private sector representatives.
- Government members must be heads or authorized representatives (at least at Undersecretary level) from the Departments of Science and Technology, Health, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Public Works and Highways, Energy, and National Defense.
- Private sector members are appointed by the President from entities such as Trade or Industry Associations, Quality and Safety Foundations, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Professional Associations, or the Academe.
- The Council may establish Advisory Committees for stakeholder input on accreditation policies.
Secretariat and Coordination Role of the DTI
- The DTI acts as the Secretariat for the PAO Council.
- Responsible for coordinating Council members and ensuring a centralized processing and release mechanism for accreditations.
Funding and Financial Provisions
- The annual appropriations of the DTI will include the funding required for PAO to implement its mandate.
- Government entities seeking PAO accreditation for international recognition must provide their own funding.
Transition Period for Existing Accredited Laboratories
- Laboratories previously accredited by other government agencies have a one-year grace period from the Order's effectivity to obtain PAO accreditation against applicable international standards.
Repeal and Effectivity
- All rules, executive orders, and issuances inconsistent with this Order are revoked, amended, or modified.
- The Order takes effect 15 days after publication in a national newspaper of general circulation.