The Department of Science and Technology-Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) has been recognized for its "quality and productivity management” during the 23rd Philippine Quality Award (PQA) assessment cycle.

The DOST-Mimaropa said it has received the PQA for Proficiency in Quality Management (Level 2).

"DOST-Mimaropa extraordinarily surpassed the first level recognition of the PQA and giant leaped to Level 2 only after its first application,” it said in a statement.

It noted that the PQA is the country’s highest level of recognition given to the government and private organizations for exemplary organizational performance.

Patterned from the United States’ Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program, the PQA focuses on the areas of leadership,strategic planning, customer focus, measurement, analysis, and knowledge management,workforce focus, process management, and results, it said.

The PQA has four award and recognition levels.

"Achieving Level 2 means that the organization has already demonstrated a thorough implementation of quality and productivity management principles and has significant progress in building sound and notable processes,” the DOST-Mimaropa said.

The PQA seeks to establish a national system for assessing quality and productivity performance and promote performance excellence in both public and private organizations in the country to become globally competitive.

“This recognition is an extraordinary feat for DOST-Mimaropa and serves as a symbol of our dedication and commitment to provide an ever-improving value to our customers and attain performance excellence as a public sector organization,” Regional Director Dr. Ma. Josefina P. Abilay said.

She expressed the DOST-Mimaropa’s commitment to continue improving its processes and strategies to cater to the ever-changing needs of its stakeholders.

“As an awardee, we are now a model and we should set a good example worthy for other organizations, particularly government agencies, to emulate,” she said.