The country’s observance of the National Standards Week coincides with the 38th World Standards Day on 14 October 2007, an annual celebration of all member-institutes of the three apex international standardization bodies, namely, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), to recognize the efforts of standardization experts worldwide.

This year’s week long celebration highlights the importance of standards to society and the significant role citizens play in building a safer and progressive community.  It also drives the message that collaborative efforts from the policy makers and the public is imperative to achieve social and economic progress.

As the National Standards Body of the Philippines, the DTI-BPS develops Philippine National Standards (PNS) and adopts relevant international standards to ensure that there are guides or references available to produce quality and safe products/ services.

As of August 2007, BPS has published a total of 5,780 PNS wherein 77.5 % of which or 4,478 PNS have been harmonized to appropriate international standards to enhance global competitiveness of Philippine product and services. 

To protect consumers from substandard products, BPS implements the Product Certification Scheme to regulate the sale of critical consumer products that greatly affect life, health and property.   It is also the Bureau’s move to level the playing field for the local manufacturers and importers and more importantly to address reports on the proliferation of substandard products in the market.

Products under mandatory certification such as electrical and electronic devices, home appliances, building and construction materials, and, chemical and consumer products, are required to undergo tests based on a specific PNS prior its sale.  Those products that comply with the safety and quality parameters are issued with the Philippine Standard (PS) License and the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) for locally-manufactured and imported products, respectively.

The Bureau supports the regular enforcement operations of the DTI Regional and Provincial offices and establishes strong partnership with various industry associations to ensure that industries strictly conform to standards and that only safe and reliable products and services are made available to the public.

The Department continues its efforts in promoting standards and instilling quality-consciousness among the public through its intensified campaign on product safety and quality through the PS and ICC marks.

Each year, DTI-BPS, spearheads the nationwide celebration of the National Standards Week as mandated under Presidential Proclamation No. 1327.  It has set several activities for the government, businesses and consumers to participate in and appreciate the relevance of standards. 

One of the Bureau’s major activities is the 7^th Consumer Trade Fair, an exhibition of products and services that adheres to the quality and safety requirements of standards and other trade related laws. It intends to raise consumers’ awareness on the importance of the PS and ICC marks, increase patronage of these products and further develop quality-consciousness in the consumers’ intelligent choice of goods.

Other activities lined-up for the NSW celebration are the BPS Testing Center Open House, the 6th Standards and Conformance Conference, wherein stakeholders are convened to the Destruction of Substandard Products and the Launch of the Standards and Conformance Portal/ WTO TBT Notification Alert Services and BPS Technical Committees’ Recognition.

These activities highlight the standardization and conformity assessment endeavors of the Bureau at the same time magnify the importance of standards in ensuring product quality and safety.