From July 29 to 30, 2020, the Internal Quality Audit Teams of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) revised its strategies in conducting its Internal Quality Audit for Calendar Year (CY) 2020 on the agency’s procedures and processes based on its Quality Management System (QMS) to adopt to the “new normal”.

The audit, which was conducted online, referred to the approved Revised Audit Program for CY 2020 in preparation for the second surveillance audit of the TUV Rheinland (TUVR) Philippines on October 19, 2020.

“We see to it that the pandemic will not hamper the performance of PCAF’s internal audit. We really need to conduct the audit as one of the requirements of the ISO standards and assess the effectiveness of the QMS,” said PCAF Quality Management Representative Merlyn Galdonez.

Aside from QMS, the team also covered the validation of measures implemented to address the Opportunities for Improvement provided by TUVR.

“Beyond compliance, we really need to see the value of the agency and its employees in creating an environment with high-performing working teams that could link our private sector stakeholders with various resources and technically guide them,” said PCAF Acting Executive Director Liza Battad.

Exec. Dir. Battad also reiterated that with the reduced budget, PCAF Innovative Consultation for Agriculture and Fishery Policy Reforms and Engagement, or iCARE, was developed to bring creative reforms and policy recommendations. Moreover, with the help of the audit, the agency will be able to promote continual improvement of the agency’s processes. ###JC