State-run policy think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has expressed strong support for pending measures seeking to establish a national quality infrastructure (NQI) framework, while urging lawmakers to consolidate competing bills and strengthen provisions that would improve standards, coordination, and industry competitiveness.

In a Feb. 24 position paper, PIDS senior research fellow Adoracion M. Navarro outlined key recommendations on House Bill (HB) Nos. 19, 1930, 2782, 3226, 5164, 6125, and 6918, which propose the National Quality Infrastructure Development Act.

“We strongly support the proposed bills because legislating a NQI framework and developing a national quality policy will help the Philippines in promoting and maintaining a culture of quality, thereby improving the competitiveness of our products and services,” Navarro said in the paper.

The proposed legislation seeks to create a unified system for quality standards, testing, certification, and accreditation—an initiative business groups like the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) say is critical to boosting Philippine competitiveness and export readiness.

Navarro noted that the seven HBs are “strikingly similar” and recommended merging them into a single measure to streamline legislative action.

She also welcomed lawmakers’ inclusion of “quality management” concepts previously proposed by PIDS, emphasizing their importance in ensuring reliable application and maintenance of standards.

Among the key recommendations, PIDS urged lawmakers to expand the functions of the proposed Philippine NQI Coordination Council to include continuous assessment of deficiencies in standards, capabilities, and infrastructure.

“Include in the functions of the proposed Philippine NQI Coordination Council the continuing assessment of the gaps in NQI standards, methods, equipment, capabilities, and competence and the identification of ways to fill these gaps,” Navarro said, adding that this function should be prioritized due to its urgency.

The think tank also recommended explicitly recognizing the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in upgrading the country’s quality ecosystem.

Navarro said universities can host laboratories that form part of an integrated network of NQI facilities and participate in academe-industry-government collaboration to improve product and service quality.

PIDS likewise pushed for stronger incentives to encourage both supply and demand for quality infrastructure services.

Navarro recommended incorporating incentives into the bill through programs such as matching grants and capital support to encourage private laboratories and conformity assessment entities, as well as vouchers and similar mechanisms to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) access quality upgrading services.

“Private-sector participation in responding to the country’s unmet needs for NQI facilities and services is important as private firms can be reliable partners,” she said, citing the experience of other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economies with strong private-sector participation in testing and certification systems.

Another major recommendation involves improving coordination among existing agencies involved in quality regulation.

Navarro proposed revising legislative language to require NQI institutions to perform their mandates “in a coherent and streamlined manner,” including conducting cross-sectoral diagnostics to address overlapping mandates, harmonize regulations, and establish interoperable databases.

She also suggested setting a one-year deadline after the law’s effectivity for agencies to complete diagnostics and formulate reforms aimed at eliminating duplicative testing and certification processes, streamlining approval timelines, and removing bottlenecks faced by exporters and other industry clients.

PIDS said a stronger and more coherent NQI framework would help align Philippine standards with international systems, improve product reliability, and enhance competitiveness across industries.