Iloilo Port Launches QMS-VEC Project

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is gearing towards the implementation of the Quality Management System (QMS) on the facilitation of Vessel Entrance and Clearance (VEC) procedures at the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex.

In the project launching of the QMS-VEC held Monday at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, engineer Manuel Boholano, Port Management Office (PMO)-Iloilo Port Manager, said that Iloilo has been identified as one of the key ports in the country working towards the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 certification.

He said the ISO Quality Management System (QMS) is being pushed by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in compliance with the requirements of Executive Order 605 which directs all government instrumentalities to be ISO certified.

The ISO 9001:2008 specifies requirements for a QMS where an organization aims to align work or business processes to consistently meet citizen’s requirements and achieve customer satisfaction.

“The PPA top management has declared its commitment to develop and implement the QMS in the Port of Iloilo” he said

Boholano said that the ISO certification will pave way for the Port of Iloilo to become globally competitive in terms of prompt but quality rendering of services for client satisfaction.

“The QMS-VEC procedure will have an improvement in the port’s core processes including vessel entrance formalities, assessment of charges, collection of charges and departure clearance,” he also said.

He added that if Iloilo obtains the ISO certification, it will be the sixth standardized port in the country after Batangas, Zamboanga, Cagayan De Oro, Davao, and General Santos City.