TÜV SÜD’s Marijane Comaling (top row, 4th from left) cites First Balfour for its continuous implementation of online systems to accommodate client requirements and management’s thrust towards a decarbonized and regenerative futureFor the 19th straight year, First Balfour has maintained its compliance with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS), ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System (EMS) and ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS).

TÜV SÜD PSB Philippines Inc. formally approved the maintenance of the QMS certification following a successful surveillance audit on Sept. 21, 2021.

First Balfour’s head of corporate quality Joey Lagdan said: “For the second straight year, there were no major or minor nonconformities found during the remote audit. An on-site audit in one of our projects will be held by October this year and we hope to have zero nonconformities too. Kudos to our internal audit team and all the support departments who have painstakingly worked hard to comply to the mandatory requirements. The positive outcome of this surveillance audit is a clear manifestation of our solid commitment to continuous improvement.”

Positive aspects

In the closing meeting, TÜV SÜD lead auditor Marijane Comaling said they found six opportunities for improvement and two positive aspects.

TÜV SÜD also recommended the company’s recertification to the environmental and occupational health standards after the successful recertification audit on Sept. 22-24. The news was announced during the audit closing ceremony attended by First Balfour executives, TÜV SÜD auditors and department representatives.

Zero nonconformities

Audit findings, as noted by TÜV SÜD lead auditor Albert Diuco, showed zero nonconformities for both the EMS and OHSMS standards, the first time this has happened since 2003.

In his closing remarks, head of environment, safety and health Joselito Vicente said: “Thank you to the whole First Balfour team. Over the years, each one of us has contributed to the vast improvements when it comes to the way we are operating our business. This is the difficult part now, to sustain the good performance and maintain our best practices going forward.”

First Balfour received its first ISO 9001 certification in 2002 and its first ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications in 2003, making it one of the first triple ISO-certified construction companies in the Philippines. (Story/Photos by: Dolly Pasia-Ramos)