QUEZON CITY — The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) marked another milestone as it successfully passed the first surveillance audit for its ISO 9001:2015 certification on 11 July 2025. The audit was conducted by SOCOTEC Certification Philippines, Inc.  at the ILS Office in Quezon City.

The audit opened with a meeting attended by the Institute’s top management, led by Executive Director III Jeanette T. Damo, along with key process owners and employees. SOCOTEC auditors Ms. Anna Theresa Manlangit and Ms. Grace Reyes facilitated the evaluation which focused on critical processes related to labor and employment research. Among the areas reviewed were: (1) Understanding the Context of the Organization, (2) Conduct of Research (COR), (3) Conduct of Development Events, (4) Publication Process, (5) Purchasing, (6) Preventive and Corrective Maintenance, (7) Internal Quality Audit, (8) Control of Documented Information, and (9) Management Review.

The auditors commended ILS for its consistent implementation of ISO standards and its continued commitment to quality and efficiency. In her remarks during the closing meeting, Executive Director Damo extended her gratitude to the auditors and the ILS personnel for the successful conduct of the surveillance audit. “We are grateful for the opportunity to continuously learn and improve. This is part of our vision to uphold our commitment to improving the quality of our services, and for us to continue to improve the delivery of our processes,” Executive Director Damo underscored.

With the successful surveillance audit, ILS maintains its ISO 9001:2015 certification, originally awarded on 15 July 2024, and valid until 2027. The Institute is currently awaiting the formal audit report from SOCOTEC Certification Philippines, Inc. This accomplishment reinforces ILS’ pursuit of excellence in public service and relevant researchers in the field of labor and employment.

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