Ifugao State University (IFSU) made history as the first to receive the Philippine Quality Award (PQA) in the Cordillera.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., through Executive Secretary Ret. Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin, presented the PQA award during the 26th PQA Assessment Cycle by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on July 17, 2024 in recognition for proficiency in quality management (Level II) in a ceremony held at the Heroes Hall, Malacañang Palace.
IFSU President Dr. Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon said “This award stands as a powerful testament to the tireless efforts, unity, and accomplishments of the IFSU community, it shows our commitment to achieving organizational excellence through the guiding principles of Total Quality Management.”
The PQA, established through Republic Act No. 9013 in 2001, represents the highest national honor for organizational excellence. Modeled after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award of the United States, it provides a framework based on Total Quality Management (TQM) principles to assess and benchmark organizational performance.
Dr. Dugyon added “We remain steadfast in our pursuit of fostering quality management and organizational excellence.”
IFSU applied for the award in 2023 highlighting its innovations, achievements, and improvements in seven key areas which comprise the PQA categories for performance excellence. The criteria for performance excellence includes: (1) Leadership (2) Strategy (3) Customers (4) Measurement, Analysis and Knowledge Management (5) Workforce (6) Operations (7) Results.
DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, Ruy Y. Moreno (Chairperson of the 26th Cycle PQA Board of Judges), Mr. Arnel D. Abanto (Vice President, Development Academy of the Philippines, PQA Administrator for Public Sector), and Dr. Zandra N. Maningas (Vice President of the Philippine Society for Quality, Inc, PQA Administrator for Private Sector) were present during the conferment ceremony. Ifugao State University Release