The City Government of Davao has successfully secured a crucial three-year renewal of its ISO 9001:2015 certification, a significant achievement that underscores its unwavering dedication to maintaining high standards in public service. The recertification was officially awarded on Thursday, December 23, 2025.
What the ISO Recertification Means for Davao
This international standard for Quality Management Systems provides a proven framework for organizations. For Davao City Hall, it serves as a blueprint for consistently meeting the needs of its constituents, enhancing customer satisfaction, and improving internal processes through a systematic, risk-based approach. The recertification is not merely a plaque on the wall but a validation of the city's operational systems.
Gilmore Rivera, the Operations Director of Socotec Certification Philippines, Inc., presented the certification. He stated that this achievement is a clear testament to the local government's sustained efforts to align its services with global benchmarks. "This is a clear attestation that your organization has been implementing a management system that conforms to the requirements of ISO, the Quality Management System, or the International Standard," Rivera emphasized during the ceremony.
Scope of Certified Services
The ISO 9001:2015 recertification covers a wide and critical range of city services, ensuring quality and efficiency reaches various sectors. The certified areas include:
- Social Services: Encompassing health, social welfare and development, and public safety and security.
- Management Services: Including planning, policy development, and performance management.
- Fiscal Management: Covering the Business Bureau, Economic Enterprise, and Assessment Services.
This broad scope means that the systems governing how Davao residents interact with these essential departments have been rigorously evaluated and meet international standards for quality and reliability.
A Commitment to Continuous Excellence
City Administrator Atty. Francis Mark Layog received the recertification on behalf of the city. He highlighted that this accomplishment is a response to the "call of excellence and quality." However, Layog was quick to note that the journey does not end here.
"There is still a lot of room for improvement, as in any other organization. The process and goal of excellence is a continuous process which the City Government of Davao will not stop," he asserted. This statement reinforces the city's philosophy of viewing the ISO certification not as an end goal, but as part of an ongoing cycle of assessment, improvement, and enhanced service delivery.
The recertification solidifies the city's pledge to sustain and refine its systems, with the ultimate aims of strengthening public trust and consistently delivering services that not only meet but exceed the expectations of every Dabawenyo.
