WITH extra-dedicated and doubly competent officials like Vice Chairman and General Manager (Atty.) Jose Ferdinand Rojas II at the helm, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, we’ve found out, is heading for ISO: 9001: 2008 Certification by third-party auditor TUV Rheinland Philippines.
Auditors John Francis Faustorillo (lead auditor), Lei May Maza, Eleanor Tan, and Hilario Capili conducted a two-day second-stage audit of gaming-related core and agency support processes.
PCSO hurdled the first-stage audit conducted by Faustorilla and Maza on Dec. 3, and received the green light to proceed to second-stage audit on Dec. 17 and 18. At the closing meeting on Dec. 18, the auditors gave PCSO four positive findings and 17 opportunities for improvement, understandable considering that this is the first time that PCSO has implemented ISO standards.
Most significantly, no nonconformities were found in any of the audited processes. It was an interesting and eventful journey for the agency, whose personnel negotiated a steep learning curve to familiarize themselves with ISO standards and apply them to the core processes of conduct and management of Lotto draw and prize claim operations.
The ISO standards were also applied to support processes: accounting and treasury, legal, human resources, assets and supply management, general services, information technology, data security, and corporate planning.
Gaming Sector Assistant General Manager Conrado Zabella was named the agency’s deputy quality management representative, and in that role guided the PCSO ISO Technical Working Group which facilitated and coordinated the process for the entire agency.
CELEBRATING HOLIDAYS AT NEW HOMES
At least 61 families from Navotas truly had a Merry Christmas this year as they formally accepted their new housing units at the ‘Navotaas’ Homes – Tanza, one of the in-city relocation sites of the local government.
The units are part of the 680 housing units funded by the National Housing Authority (NHA) in support to the Navotas Socialized Housing Program of Mayor John Rey Tiangco which commenced on 2010 after the reclamation of 8.3-hectare pond and site development project of then mayor and now Rep. Toby Tiangco.
“These families are in addition to the 700 Navoteño families who now have a safe and decent housing at ‘Navotaas’ Homes Tanza thru the support of Rep. Toby Tiangco and Habitat for Humanity Philippines who funded 200 and 500 housing units respectively,” says Mayor Tiangco.
Meanwhile, NHA–NCR Program Manager Engr. Juancho Corpuz said the agency is currently building 180 housing units at Tanglaw and Gulayan in Barangay North Bay Boulevard South and plans to build 408 more housing units at a new in-city relocation site for the residents who live in the coastal area and water ways. GOOD RIDDANCE/ARLIE CALALO
