31 March 2021 – The Summer Capital is among ten local government units chosen as beneficiaries of the national government-funded Government Quality Management Program (GQMP) that promotes quality improvement in the government sector.

Thus, declared city planning and development office coordinator Archt. Donna Rillera Tabangin during the regular management committee meeting, March 30, of local officials led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong at Baguio Convention Center.

Program’s purpose is to effect improvement in public sector performance by ensuring citizen-focused and consistent quality of public services which can be achieved through an effective Quality Management System (QMS), she said.

Technical assistance to develop ISO 9001:2015 QMS standard will be provided by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) that has funding through the General Appropriations Act of 2021.

 “The QMS standard covers the city’s management, core and support processes, and effect improvement in the quality of its services for the provision and regulation of quality public services, programs and projects in the areas of health, social welfare, public information, environmental management, public infrastructure, tourism, public safety and economic development to its constituents,” Tabangin said.

The DAP is expected to prepare the project’s course design; provide resource persons; provide technical advice and guidance; conduct readiness assessment and final preparations for ISO 9001:2015 certification process.

As a beneficiary, the city has no financial obligation but is required to designate a counterpart support team; provide logistical requirements; provide transportation; ensure implementation of project activities and provide policy support;

Ensure availability of staff participants; finish project within agreed duration; procure a 3rd party certifying body within three months upon completion of the technical assistance; pursue certification within six months; and provide progress reports.

Project completion is slated on December 31 this year, Tabangin said, and additional activities outside the GQMP like additional batch of training courses may require a separate contract. – Gaby B. Keith