PASAY CITY, October 29, 2025 – The National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST PHL) participated in the 1st National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) Conference at the Sheraton Hotel Manila on October 29, 2025. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) organized the event to address how the Philippines can improve its quality infrastructure system.
Academician (Acd.) Evelyn Mae Tecson-Mendoza, member of NAST PHL, presented the country's current NQI ecosystem. The National Quality Infrastructure refers to the system comprising organizations—both public and private—together with the policies, legal and regulatory framework, and practices needed to support and enhance the quality, safety, and environmental soundness of goods, services, and processes. It relies on five core pillars: metrology, standardization, accreditation, conformity assessment, and market surveillance. A strong and coordinated NQI is important for ensuring safe, quality products for domestic consumers and for meeting international market requirements.
Acd. Tecson-Mendoza highlighted gaps that affect both Philippine consumers, and the export competitiveness. The Philippines ranks 6th among nine ASEAN countries in quality infrastructure development. The country faces serious problems: not enough staff in quality agencies, particularly in metrology laboratories, standards bodies, accreditation services—along with limited budgets and no coordinating council to align the different agencies involved. These gaps compromise both the quality of domestic products and physical infrastructures in the country and the competitiveness of Philippine exports, such as when foreign markets reject our products mainly because they do not meet quality standards or have proper documentation.
Acd. Evelyn Mae Tecson-Menoza, presentation during Plenary Session 3, the Philippines’ NQI Ecosystem
Acd. Tecson-Mendoza presented NAST PHL's recommendations to address these concerns. The 20th Congress should pass a comprehensive NQI legislation. The President should create an NQI Coordinating Council through Executive Order. Government must increase funding for metrology, standards, and accreditation institutions. This includes addressing the talent deficit through improved retention strategies, hiring larger numbers of qualified technical staff, providing competitive salaries to retain experts, and allocating sufficient operational budgets. Schools and industries need to promote a culture of quality throughout society.
The conference featured international perspectives from UNIDO experts who shared best practices from countries like Colombia, which successfully transformed its fragmented quality systems into a regional benchmark through systematic investment and policy reforms. The discussions reinforced that quality infrastructure is not merely a regulatory burden but an enabling platform that will help Philippine producers meet international requirements, access premium markets, participate in sustainable value chains, and protect domestic markets and consumers from substandard products.
The National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST PHL), an attached agency to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), is the premier organization that recognizes achievements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), nurtures emerging scientific talents and serves as the primary advisory body on national ST&I policy and related matters. For more updates, follow NAST Philippines’ (@nastphl) social media accounts.