Quezon City – The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) successfully underwent its first Internal Quality Audit (IQA) for 2025 on March 14 and 17, spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its Internal Audit Service (IAS), reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to continuous improvement and client satisfaction.

Under the leadership of Chairperson Grace E. Maniquiz-Tan, the NLRC remains steadfast in its commitment to excellence and good governance, as demonstrated by its successful completion of the 2025 Internal Quality Audit.

Four internal auditors from DOLE-IAS and the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) conducted an on-site assessment of two key processes under the NLRC’s established Quality Management System (QMS): (1) Processing and Release of Judgment Awards and Cash Bonds, and (2) Monitoring of Performance of Labor Arbiters. The auditors also reviewed the Commission’s compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, internal guidelines, and findings from the 2024 surveillance audit.

During the closing meeting on March 20, the IQA team presented its findings, recognizing several best practices within the Commission. These included the efficient use of the Electronic Case Tracking System (eCTS), proactive case-ageing monitoring, secure filing of reports from Labor Arbiters, compliance with the process cycle time (PCT), and systematic management of capacity-building programs.

Additionally, the IQA team noted that staff from the Administrative Division and the Management and Fiscal Division demonstrated a clear understanding of the audited processes during interviews and document verification.

The audit also identified areas for improvement, including infrastructure and vehicle maintenance, work environment measurement, and the monitoring and management of information and communications technology (ICT) resources.

“We thank the NLRC for being open and cooperative all throughout the audit process, particularly during the interviews, document checking, and discussions. This activity allows us to collaborate and enhance our existing processes,” DOLE-Internal Audit Service OIC-Director Eric Roldan said.

The process owners and other representatives from the NLRC, led by Acting Executive Clerk of Court, Labor Arbiter Mona Lisa Vargas, NLRC-QMS Committee Chairperson, Executive Labor Arbiter Cherry Sarmiento, and National Capital Region Arbitration Branch (NCRAB) Executive Labor Arbiter Paz Eugenia Neri-Dysangco, conveyed their appreciation to the IQA team. They assured that the Commission is committed to adopting the recommended improvements to further enhance its processes and service delivery.

The IQA serves as an independent and systematic assessment of the NLRC’s QMS implementation and its compliance with ISO 9001:2015 standards. It also forms part of the Commission’s preparation for the upcoming surveillance audit in July 2025.

Established in 2015, the NLRC’s QMS earned ISO certification in the same year and has continuously maintained it to the present for its registered processes on the Processing and Release of Judgment Award and the Monitoring of Performance of Labor Arbiters.

Following the IQA closing meeting, the NLRC-QMS Committee convened to draft an action plan addressing the audit findings and to prepare for the upcoming external audit. This initiative reaffirms the NLRC’s dedication to providing high-quality services to stakeholders while upholding international standards in public service.