Where we work · Philippines
ISO and GRC certification consulting in the Philippines
Achieve ISO and GRC certification in the Philippines with Sterling: 8,100+ client engagements in 60+ countries, 20+ years.
- 23 standards, one team
- Accredited certification route
- Manila office team
- Effivity and Academy included
Sectors that ask for certification in the Philippines
Clients include
ISO and GRC certification in the Philippines at a glance
Demand for certification and compliance in the Philippines comes from three directions. The first is regulation: the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173), overseen by the National Privacy Commission, expects reasonable and appropriate organisational, physical and technical measures, while Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas circulars on information security, IT risk and business continuity shape how banks, e-money issuers and fintech firms operate. The second is government: the Government Quality Management Committee validates ISO 9001 certification as evidence for national agencies, GOCCs and state universities, and prefers certification bodies accredited by the Philippine Accreditation Bureau of the Department of Trade and Industry. The third is the market, led by IT-BPM, contact centres and back-office outsourcing, healthcare outsourcing, software and SaaS, export manufacturing, and food processing and cold chain, where overseas clients and brand owners ask for independent evidence. Certificates come from accredited certification bodies, not from Sterling. Sterling's Manila office brings 20+ years and 8,100+ client engagements in 60+ countries to Philippine organisations, with Effivity and Sterling Academy included with the engagement.
ISO and GRC standards Sterling delivers in the Philippines
Each page covers who needs the standard in the Philippines, its requirements, how to get it, what sets the time and cost, and the local laws behind it.
Quality & operational excellence
Information security, cyber & cloud
Privacy & data protection
AI governance & digital trust
Environment, energy & climate
Health & safety
Governance, risk & resilience
Financial services, payments & AML
Food safety & agriculture
Healthcare, medical devices & life sciences
Laboratories, inspection & accreditation
Automotive, aerospace, rail & defence
Construction, energy, oil & gas
Regulators and laws that drive certification in the Philippines (9)
| Law or regulator | What it asks for | Standards it cites |
|---|---|---|
| Data Privacy Act of 2012 National Privacy Commission (attached to the Department of Information and Communications Technology) | Applies to the processing of all types of personal information and to any natural and juridical person involved in personal information processing, including controllers and processors not established in the Philippines that use equipment located in the Philippines or maintain an office, branch or agency there; also reaches processing outside the country where it relates to Philippine citizens or residents or the entity has links with the Philippines. Controllers must implement reasonable and appropriate organisational, physical and technical measures to protect personal information. The Act does not require ISO certification. | |
| Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Banks, e-money issuers and other BSP-supervised financial institutions (BSFIs) | Circular No. 982, Series of 2017 — Enhanced Guidelines on Information Security Management. BSFIs that process and issue payment cards under international brand schemes should tailor the information security programme to fit the requirements of PCI DSS; security certifications such as those provided by ISO are described as not specifically required under BSP regulations but may be considered a sound security practice. Security functions outsourced to third parties, including cloud providers, need adequate oversight under the outsourcing rules. | PCI DSS |
| Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Banks and other BSP-supervised institutions, including IT outsourcing and cloud arrangements | Circular No. 808, Series of 2013 — Guidelines on Information Technology Risk Management for All Banks and Other BSP Supervised Institutions; stated to be based on international standards and recognised principles of international practice for IT risk management. Covers IT outsourcing and vendor management and service level agreements, and notes that external audits and security certificates can mitigate some cloud computing concerns. No ISO standard is named. | |
| Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) BSP-supervised financial institutions | Circular No. 951, Series of 2017 — Guidelines on Business Continuity Management; ISO 22301 is not named. | |
| Government Quality Management Committee (GQMC), under the Government Quality Management Program (Executive Order No. 605, 2007) National government agencies, state universities and colleges, GOCCs and local water districts | GQMC Memorandum Circular No. 2021-1 — guidelines on validating ISO 9001:2015 QMS certification submitted as evidence for the FY 2021 Performance-Based Bonus; ISO/IEC 17025 or 17020 accreditation and other listed equivalents are also accepted; certification bodies accredited by DTI-PAB are preferred. | ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17025 |
| Department of Agriculture — National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) Meat establishments | DA Administrative Order (2003) on the Mandatory Application of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Program in all NMIC accredited 'AAA' meat establishments, with NMIS implementing guidelines; GMP and SSOP orders apply to 'AA' establishments. | HACCP |
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — Center for Food Regulation and Research Processed food manufacturers, repackers, traders and distributors | Food Safety Act of 2013 and its implementing rules; the FDA page checked does not cite ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 or HACCP certification. | |
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Medical device manufacturers, importers and distributors | FDA Administrative Order No. 2018-0002 — Guidelines Governing the Issuance of an Authorization for a Medical Device based on the ASEAN Harmonized Technical Requirements (full implementation under FDA Circular No. 2021-002); ISO 13485 is not named in the documents checked. | |
| Department of Energy (DOE) Designated establishments and government offices (energy use) | Energy efficiency and conservation programmes, including the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP) system and the Designated Establishments Online Submission System (DEOSS); ISO 50001 is not cited on the page checked. |
Accreditation and recognition
- Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB), Department of Trade and Industry: National accreditation body of the Philippines — accredits inspection, testing and certifying bodies, including management system certification bodies (ISO/IEC 17021), testing and calibration laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025), inspection bodies (ISO/IEC 17020) and medical laboratories (ISO 15189).
Look for a certification body whose accreditation scope covers your standard and sector, from a national accreditation body recognised under the international arrangements of Global ACI (Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, formerly the IAF MLA). Sterling does not certify.
Cities
Tenders and procurement
- New Government Procurement Act (Republic Act No. 12009) and PhilGEPS (Government Procurement Policy Board; Procurement Service – PhilGEPS): Bids and Awards Committees require the prospective bidder's valid and updated PhilGEPS Certificate of Registration and Membership. The Act does not make ISO certification a general requirement; specifications may reference product or service standards specified by appropriate government entities or similar international bodies, so any certificate requirement is set in the individual procurement. Procuring entities must establish a sustainable public procurement programme that reduces adverse environmental impact.
Economic zones
- Clark Freeport Zone:
- New Clark City (BCDA) — industrial estates including Filinvest New Clark City: light manufacturing, logistics, storage and warehousing, cold storage, food processing
Sterling in the Philippines
Sterling delivers in the Philippines from its Manila office: one team from scoping to certificate, with Effivity ISO & GRC software and Sterling Academy access included. Sterling does not certify; certification decisions stay with independent bodies.
What the standards require, clause by clause
Before you start in Philippines, read what each clause and subclause requires of you, how to implement it, the evidence auditors look for and the mistakes to avoid.
- ISO 9001:2026 requirements95 clause guides
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 requirements143 clause guides
- ISO 14001:2026 requirements53 clause guides
- ISO 45001:2018 requirements60 clause guides
- ISO 22000:2018 requirements95 clause guides
- ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements68 clause guides
- ISO/IEC 42001:2023 requirements97 clause guides
Questions Philippine clients ask
Are certification audits in the Philippines conducted in English or Filipino?
English is the usual language, though both are possible. Filipino and English are the official languages, and English is the usual language of business documentation, so audits normally run in English. Agree the audit language and the language of controlled documents with the certification body at application. Frontline records and worker interviews may be in Filipino or a regional language, so plan for interpretation where needed.
Does the Data Privacy Act apply to a foreign company that outsources to the Philippines?
Quite possibly, yes. The Act applies to the processing of all types of personal information and to any person involved in it, including controllers and processors not established in the Philippines that use equipment located there or maintain an office, branch or agency there. It can also reach processing outside the country that relates to Philippine citizens or residents. Whether your arrangement is caught turns on its facts, so confirm with your counsel or the National Privacy Commission.
Does the BSP require ISO 27001 or PCI DSS?
Not as a blanket rule. Circular No. 982 says BSP-supervised institutions that process and issue payment cards under international brand schemes should tailor their information security programme to fit PCI DSS. Security certifications such as those provided by ISO are described as not specifically required under BSP regulations, though they may be considered a sound security practice. Check the circular against your own licence and supervisor's expectations.
Which accreditation should the certification body hold in the Philippines?
Look to the Philippine Accreditation Bureau, the national accreditation body under the Department of Trade and Industry, which accredits management system certification bodies against ISO/IEC 17021. Its milestones record IAF MLA membership for QMS from 2002 and EMS from 2007, retained in 2021 for QMS, EMS and FSMS. The IAF closed on 1 January 2026 and its functions passed to Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, so check the current recognition scope before relying on it.
Do Philippine government tenders require ISO certificates?
Not as a general rule. The New Government Procurement Act requires bidders for a valid PhilGEPS Certificate of Registration and Membership, and does not make ISO certification a general requirement. Any certificate requirement is set in the individual procurement, so read each bid document. Separately, government agencies themselves use ISO 9001 certification as evidence for the Performance-Based Bonus under the Government Quality Management Committee's guidelines.
Can audits be scheduled around Holy Week and the holiday season?
Yes, but allow for them when you book. Holidays and special non-working days are declared each year by presidential proclamation, and Holy Week and the Christmas to New Year period both affect audit scheduling. Weather-related suspensions of work can also move on-site audit dates. Do not rely on fixed dates; check the current year's proclamation and agree the plan with your certification body.
Cities Sterling covers in the Philippines
Each city page sets out the industries, zones and standards that matter locally.
Start with a free discovery call
A Sterling consultant goes through your entities, your regulators and your target date with you. No proposal until the scope is agreed.
Sources
- Data Privacy Act of 2012 — privacy.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
- Circular No. 982, Series of 2017 — bsp.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
- Circular No. 808, Series of 2013 — bsp.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
- Circular No. 951, Series of 2017 — bsp.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
- GQMC Memorandum Circular No. 2021-1 — dbm.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
- DA Administrative Order (2003) on the Mandatory Application of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Program in all NMIC accredited 'AAA' meat establishments, with NMIS implementing guidelines; GMP and SSOP orders apply to 'AA' establishments — nmis.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
- Food Safety Act of 2013 and its implementing rules; the FDA page checked does not cite ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 or HACCP certification — fda.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
- FDA Administrative Order No. 2018-0002 — fda.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
- Energy efficiency and conservation programmes, including the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP) system and the Designated Establishments Online Submission System (DEOSS); ISO 50001 is not cited on the page checked — doe.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
- Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB), Department of Trade and Industry — dti.gov.ph; dbm.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
- New Government Procurement Act (Republic Act No. 12009) and PhilGEPS — ps-philgeps.gov.ph; gppb.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
- Clark Freeport Zone — bcda.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
- New Clark City (BCDA) — industrial estates including Filinvest New Clark City — bcda.gov.ph (accessed 5 Oct 2026)
Talk to a consultant
Plan your certification with the Manila team.
Tell us your goals, locations and target date. We’ll help you define the scope, timeline and next steps.
philippines@sterling-grc.com+1 201 263 4443 (global headquarters) · your nearest office and its number are at the top of this page
What would you like to achieve?
Choose a starting point. The enquiry form takes about a minute.
Book my free discovery callContinue to the enquiry form to share your details. Please do not include passwords, sensitive personal information or confidential files. A Sterling consultant replies within one working day. Privacy notice