After its fresh triumph on bagging the second APSN Green Port Award for the Philippines on 15 November 2018, the Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro (PMO MOC) has another milestone to celebrate for, as the Stage 2 External Audit for the Integrated Management System (IMS) concluded on 22 November 2018 with favorable results.

After the two-day audit, the TUV Rheinland recommended PMO MOC for certification with zero (0) non-conformity and seven (7) positive findings, denoting that PMO MOC has “established and maintains an effective system to ensure compliance with its policy and objectives…,complies with, adequately maintains and implements the requirements of the standards.”

The IMS integrates the three systems, namely—ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management, ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management and BS OSHAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety into one single Management System which the PMO implements since 10 April 2018.

Among others, the external auditors keenly examined PMO’s policies and programs, documentation, port facilities, work environment, outputs against targets and attainment of plans, as well as observed actual port operations and conduct core processes.

The TUV Rheinland commended the PMO MOC’s zealous efforts and fresh initiatives towards automation particularly the Electronic Queuing System at the Assessment Billing Collection Unit (ABCU), deployment of feedback mechanism through Electronic Customer Satisfaction Survey, and the installation and utilization of the Interactive Digital White Board at the Marine Section. The audit team also lauded the systemized flow and tracking of communications through the implementation of Communication Pro system, and the establishment and operation of the PMO command center. Highlighted also in their findings is the decrease of annual incidents/accidents from a high of 215 cases in 2015 to currently 41 as of October 2018. For infrastructure, TUV Rheinland gave kudos to the realization and ongoing construction of the Port of Opol, the 6-Lane Cargo Gate Complex, and the new 2-storey Passenger Terminal Building at the baseport.

The month of November has been very productive and rewarding for PMO MOC. Being a GPAS awardee and IMS-certified, are reflections of the hand-in-hand effort, drive for quality and excellence, and dedication to public service of all the personnel with the inspiring leadership of the management. But these milestones only prompt PMO MOC to perform better and ensure improvement of its management system to provide better services to the port stakeholders for customer satisfaction, prevention of human injury of loss of life, security of properties/cargo and environmental protection.- By IMR Lam