THE Cavite Water and Wastewater Testing Laboratory (CWWTL) of the Department of Science and Technology- CALABARZON (DOST-CALABARZON) maintains its continued accreditation based on the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards after the recently concluded Remote Second Surveillance Visit and Special Assessment conducted by the DTI- Philippine Accreditation Bureau’s Laboratory Accreditation Division (DTI-PAB-LAD) last 23-24 March 2022.
The Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB), formerly the Philippine Accreditation Office, is the national accreditation body of the Philippines and the central body to accredit inspection, testing, and certifying bodies and other bodies offering conformity assessment services in accordance with Executive Order 802.
Accreditation is the process in which an authoritative body formally recognizes the competence, impartiality, and capability of an organization to carry out specific activities, like certification, testing, calibration and inspection.
The assessment team was composed of Ms. Dinah Lyra Pantaleon as Team Leader, Ms. Leticia Pangilinan as Team Member, together with Ms. Evangeline Palomillo and Ms. Xienina Lim as Technical Assessors. Ms. Samantha B. Alonzo and Ms. Rachelle Shaney Z. Tuyor, PAB Accreditation Officer act as the facilitators of the assessment.
The DOST-CWWTL teams includes Ms. Verjo Angelie M. Sisante, Quality Manager/ Laboratory Head together with Ms. Anna Marie S. Daigan, Technical Manager of Microbiological Laboratory, Ms. Joan Mae B. Acasio, Science Research Assistant/ Micro Analyst, and Ms. Thea Mary Joyce M. Diloy, Laboratory Technician I/Chemical Analyst.
Also present during the assessment were Ms. Jenny Ann N. Lawas, Mr. John Gerald P. Sacabon, Ms. Emeliana Z. Sarmiento, and Mr. Ener M. Sapanta of DOST CALABARZON Finance and Administrative Services Division. The auditees undertook an assessment on the implemented laboratory quality management system and special assessment on the applied additional signatory for Chemical Testing.
Meanwhile, Ms. Gilda S. De Jesus, Provincial Director of DOST-Cavite and Ms. Lyn A. Fernandez, OIC- Office of the Chief Administrative/Human Resource Manager Officer of DOST CALABARZON welcomed the auditors and showed support to CWWTL Team during the opening meeting.
After the two-day assessment, it was concluded that the existing approved signatories, namely Ms. Anna Marie S. Daigan and Ms. Joan Mae B. Acasio for Microbiological Testing and Ms. Verjo Angelie Maristela- Sisante for Chemical Testing are still recommended by the technical assessors. One (1) additional new applicant, Ms. Thea Marie Joyce M. Diloy is now recommended as new PAB-approved signatories for Chemical Testing.
DTI-Philippine Accreditation Bureau officially granted the CWWTL its continued accreditation conforming to the requirements of the latest version of PNS ISO/IEC 17025 last February 17, 2021. The said accreditation is valid until July 15, 2023 both for Chemical Testing and Biological Testing. The CWWTL was first granted accreditation on July 15, 2008 making it the first provincial-based laboratory to gain an international standards recognition. Currently, the CWWTL is a service laboratory equipped to perform conventional and rapid tests on water and wastewater. It has the capability to determine the physical, chemical, and microbiological properties and quality of water and wastewater or effluents. The tests procedures being used are in accordance with the international standard methods. It is also a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Recognized Environmental Laboratory, Department of Health (DOH)- Accredited Water Testing Laboratory and a Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) Authorized to Operate a Chemical Laboratory.|
