DAVAO ORIENTAL – Strongly pushing for quality customer service and standard management system that is at par with the international standards, the Department of Education Davao Oriental Division is now set to receive its ISO certification.

Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Lorenzo Mendoza confirmed on Tuesday, November 19, 2019, that the DepEd Davao Oriental Division has been recommended to receive the ISO 9001:2015 Certification after successfully passing the parameters set according to internationally recognized benchmarks under the Quality Management Systems.

“I am elated with the result because this means a lot for DepEd Davao Oriental to be certified which means that our systems and processes are at par with the international standards,” said Dr. Mendoza.

TÜV SÜD, an internationally-recognized auditing firm and a leading provider of management systems solutions, will issue the International Certification to DepEd Davao Oriental 30 to 45 days upon the recommendation, thus, cementing DepEd Davao Oriental’s compliance with the international benchmark.

Undergoing a rigid and detailed auditing process that looked on various “clauses”, the main parameters assessed under the Quality Management Systems are those that basically deal with the institution’s management strategies on enhancing customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.

“We undergo with this ISO process to align our practices and systems with international standards with the end view of full customers’ satisfaction,” said Dr. Mendoza, adding that undergoing the ISO Certification process “helps and guides the Division in the provision of Education Management Services, particularly on Governance and Operation and Curriculum Implementation, to schools and learning centers offering Kindergarten to Grade 12 Basic Education Program.”

With the ISO Certification, DepEd Davao Oriental Division has become the fourth division out of the 11 divisions in the Davao Region to be recognized as ISO Certified. The other three ISO Certified divisions are Davao City, Compostela Valley, and Davao del Norte.

An Inspiring Legacy

While the Schools Division’s journey in the ISO auditing process was filled with a lot of birth pains which include several months of sleepless nights and nerve-racking preparations among DepEd personnel, all the sacrifices have all been worth it, says Dr. Mendoza, whose impending transfer to another Division sends bittersweet feelings for him and his colleagues.

Dr. Mendoza, who aggressively pushed for the Division to undergo the ISO processing, is now leaving an inspiring legacy to the Davao Oriental Division.  “This is not only my legacy to the Division but at the same time a worthy gift by DepEd Davao Oriental family for my birthday and transfer to another division,” he said.

After finishing his almost three-year stint as the Davao Oriental Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Mendoza, who is bound to be reassigned to the neighboring Province of Compostela Valley (soon-to-be Davao de Oro) or in Davao Occidental, said he is proud to leave a legacy that his beloved Division will remember him by.

“This is our way of giving back to the support given to us by the Provincial Government as well as the two Congressional offices who have been really helpful in all of our undertakings,” he added.

Aside from pushing for international and corporate standards that enhanced the image of the Division, Dr. Mendoza also fostered a culture of positivity and integrity on workplace management.

Dr. Mendoza has facilitated the conversion of a number of elementary schools to integrated schools in order to cater to students in far-flung areas with no secondary schools. Also, he facilitated numerous appointment and promotion of deserving DepEd personnel by opening vacancies for various plantilla positions.

Under Dr. Lorenzo’s watch, the Division has not only been practicing good housekeeping but it has also stepped up security measures by installing CCTVs as well as beefed up disaster preparedness and also fast-tracked financial transactions. “Before, the principals from far-flung schools process their liquidation for how many days but with our current processing, it only takes one day.  It is one of our best practices that we have here,” he said.

He always sees to it that he empowers people and set a good example while executing firmness and fairness in managing his subordinates.

An International Benchmark

With the Division’s successful bid in securing the Certificate on international standards, the current administration is confident that the Division will sustain its gains.

“Although there is a sudden increase in the Division’s scope of responsibility due to the recent reversion of schools in four municipalities back to the Provincial Division, I am quite positive that the Division will easily adjust because our bid for the ISO has prepared us to take on larger responsibilities, especially in terms of the administrative and supervisory jurisdiction,” said Dr. Lorenzo.

As for its quality policy, the DepEd Division of Davao Oriental remains “committed in producing skillful and value-laden citizens through relevant, innovative and contextualized curriculum and excellent governance with integrity, anytime, anywhere.”

It further commits to continuously meet customer requirements required by ISO standards, to provide a relevant and inclusive curricular implementation, continual improvement of the quality management system, ensure efficient and effective resource management, and employ quality standards of governance and operations.

The Division’s journey for the ISO processing has started in May this year. Its first audit was undertaken in August and was followed by another wave of auditing in October for the Stage two audit.

While ISO certificate’s effectivity will last up to three years before another round of auditing, a yearly surveillance audit will be conducted to ensure that standard systems and processes are maintained.  By Karen Lou Deloso/ Photos by Rhea Shane Laureano