The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) again hurdled recently the stringent tests of the ISO 9001:2015 recertification audit amid the Covid-19 pandemic, to pass with flying colors the tough international standards of service efficiency and delivery in the workplace.

​“It’s another major accomplishment by the hardworking CEZA employees,” said Leonardo Cruz, head technical assistant in the office of

Sec. Raul Lambino, CEZA Administrator and CEO, who led the team in brainstorming for the annual audit to pass the ISO review and analysis of the agency’s performance.

​ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization that sets international standards in the workplace to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency for almost every industry around the world.

​Like superheroes in a sci-fi movie demolishing the opponents, CEZA employees based in its headquarters in Mandaluyong in Metro Manila and its field offices in Santa Ana and Tuguegarao in Cagayan worked like one, well-oiled machine to pull off an “excellent” overall rating in the simultaneous tests conducted by auditors of Certification Partner Global (CPG).

​The audit results reflected the employees’ robust work ethic, resiliency amid the pandemic, and commitment to deliver only the best services to its business locators and tourists that visit the
Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (CSEZFP) in Santa Ana, the hub of the agency’s growing business ventures and tourism attractions.

​Lambino, who is also the Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon, said the ISO 9001:2015 recertification victory was a team effort, citing, in particular, the cohesiveness of the officials and employees and the quality management system (QMS) which he added is proof of the agency’s commitment to provide world-class services to its clients and the public.

​“This remarkable achievement proves that our policies are business-friendly and the processes are efficient and effective to achieve the desired goals,’ said Lambino, who also cited the efforts of the CEZA board of
directors in crafting policies that would entice new business investors to place their investment in the CSEZFP.

​CEZA first established its QMS in October 2017 and was immediately awarded an ISO 9001:2015 certification on Feb. 26, 2018. Since then, the investment agency has kept its
global certification intact, adhering to the ISO standards in the workplace to pass the annual audits with the highest honors every year.