NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
Senate
e( tl)f 2;>rnctf!r}>
•S OCT 17 P5S1
■CCEIVED BY;
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
MODERNIZING THE NATIONAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM (NMS) OF THE 
PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 2003, Republic Act 9236, also known as the "National Metrology Act of 
2003', established the National Measurement Infrastructure System (NMIS). The 
National Metrology Division (NMD) of the Industrial Technology Development Institute 
(ITDI) is the one tasked to develop, maintain, and disseminate measurement 
standards in the country. However, coping with the rapid technological changes have 
become more difficult due to its limited funds, personnel and facilities. Metrology 
affects standards, technical regulation and conformity assessment. It plays a crucial 
role in the development of society, trade, and consumer protection.
Despite their efforts, our metrology institute lagged behind its counterparts in 
Southeast Asia mainly due to lack of government investments, clear legal framework 
and updated policy for a national metrology infrastructure. Compared to our regional 
neighbors, the Philippines had the lowest annual budget for its metrology institute, 
lowest number of technical and support staff, lowest number of Calibration and 
Measurement Capabilities (CMCs), and lowest number of accredited calibration 
laboratories1.
1 Proposed Strategy for the National Metrology Infrastructure of the Philippines, http://nml.gov.ph/wp- 
content/uploads/downloads/2015/ll/STRATFINAL.pdf


With its wide-ranging importance in ensuring economic competitiveness, public 
health, consumer welfare, commuter safety, environmental protection, and energy 
efficiency, among others, there is a clear need to modernize and enhance the 
capacities of our measurement system.
This bill aims to upgrade the physical resources and operational techniques of 
the system through acquisition and development of state-of-the-art instruments and 
facilities to ensure the reliability and integrity of measurements in the country, and to 
strengthen and harmonize the country's measurement system, in accordance with 
international best practices to support confidence in measurements for regulation, 
trade and manufacturing.
This measure is part of the priority legislative agenda of the Department of 
Science and Technology (DOST), which "seeks to provide capacity building programs 
through competency training" and "foster a metrology culture that will instill a keen 
appreciation of the importance of metrology." Thus, Filipinos will no longer have to 
settle with measurements which are "medyo tama", "pwede na yan" or "sakto na".
Hence, the passage of this bill is hereby earnestly sought.
RAMON
^NG REVILLA, JR.'h


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
1394
gxiiatc
Snit* ftrtrrfnr/
H OCT 17 P5 SI
RECEIVED BY; .
S. No.
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
MODERNIZING THE NATIONAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM (NMS) OF THE 
PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Modernized National
1 Measurement System Act of2022".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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facilitate the development of scientific and technical knowledge and progress in the
5 
national economy by providing a modernized National Measurement System (NMS)
6 
that will ensure the integrity of measurements in the country, meet regional and
7 
international requirements, and provide support for the competitiveness of Philippine
8 
products and services. The State shall also support the undertaking of necessary
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activities to promote metrology, develop appropriate infrastructure, support research
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in metrology and protect the health, safety and interest of every citizen and his
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environment against possible abuse related to measurements.
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The State shall support the harmonization of national requirements, including
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technical regulations, document standards and conformity assessment procedures,
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with international requirements as envisioned in the ASEAN Economic Community
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(AEC), World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international agreements and


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covenants resulting to free flow of goods and services, and a predictable trading
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environment.
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The State shall provide support to metrology research and development for the
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purpose of continuously improving the national measurement standards and their
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measurement uncertainties, developing novel measurement techniques and
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technologies aiming at Philippine Industry take-up to stimulate industrial innovation;
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coming-up with solutions for societal challenges focusing on contributions for energy
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efficiency, food security, environment protection, and citizen's health, security and
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economic well-being; and address the measurement needs of society and industry at
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the local level.
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Sec. 3. Scope. - This Act shall cover all agencies, institutions, entities involved
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in metrological activities and processes, both private and public.
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Sec. 4. Objectives. - In furtherance of the policies enunciated in this Act, the
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following objectives shall be pursued:
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a) Upgrade physical resources and operational techniques through acquisition
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and development of state-of-the-art instruments, equipment, facilities and
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systems to enhance current capabilities and ensure that measurements in
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the country are reliable;
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b) Strengthen and harmonize the country's measurement system in
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accordance with international best practices to support confidence in
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measurements for regulation, trade and manufacturing;
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c) Implement legal metrological controls of measuring instruments in the
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country in the interest of fair trade, health, safety, law enforcement, and
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environmental protection;
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d) Transform the existing National Metrology Division of the Industrial
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Technology Development Institute to the National Measurement Institute
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of the Philippines directly under the Department of Science and Technology
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(DOST);
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e) Designate the National Measurement Institute of the Philippines as the
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country's national metrology institute;


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f) Disseminate knowledge on state-of-the-art calibration techniques and
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develop competencies on legal metrological controls through capacity
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building programs; and
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g) Foster a metrology culture that will instill a keen appreciation of the
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metrology as a discipline through the integration of metrology courses in
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the educational system.
7 
Sec. 5. Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of harmonizing with international
8 
best practices, the following terms are in reference to the International Vocabulary of
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Metrology and International Vocabulary of Legal Metrology:
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a) Accreditation - refers to the process in which an authoritative body formally
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recognizes the competence, impartiality and capability of an organization
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to carry out specific activities, such as certification, testing, calibration and
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inspection.
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b) ASEAN Common Requirements for Prepackaged Products - refers to a
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regionally-agreed document specifying 
the labelling requirements and
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allowed quantity deficiency in prepackaged products for ASEAN Member
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States namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR,
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Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
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c) Asia Pacific Legal Metrology Forum (APLMF) - refers to a grouping of legal
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metrology authorities from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Member
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economies and other economies in the Pacific Rim for the development of
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legal metrology and promotion of free and open trade in the Asia Pacific
23 
region through harmonization and removal of technical or administrative
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barriers to trade in the field of legal metrology.
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d) Asia Pacific Metrology Program (APMP) - refers to a grouping of national
26 
metrology institutes from the Asia-Pacific region for the promotion and
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support of a measurement infrastructure in the Asia Pacific region that
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facilitates international 
trade, improves 
industrial efficiency and
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competitiveness, ensures equity in the marketplace, and enhances the
30 
quality of life and the environment through reliable measurements.
31 
e) Calibration - refers to an operation that, under specified conditions, in a
32 
first step, establishes a relation between 
the quantity values with


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measurement uncertainties provided by measurement standards and 
corresponding indications with associated measurement uncertainties and, 
in a second step, uses this information to establish a relation for obtaining 
a measurement result from an indication.
f) 
Calibration laboratories - refer to public or private entities that perform 
tests and/or calibrations in a permanent, temporary, or remote location.
g) Certification - refers to a procedure where a third party provides written 
attestation that a product, process or service meets specified requirements.
h) Conformity assessment- refers to a set of processes that shows a product, 
service or system meets specified requirements. The main forms of 
conformity assessment are testing, certification, and inspection.
i) 
Designated Institutes - refer to organizations or entities appointed by a 
country's national metrology institute to hold specific measurement 
standards or services that are not covered by the national metrology 
institute.
j) 
Inspection - refers to the examination of a measuring instrument to 
ascertain all or some of the following: verification mark and/or certificate is 
valid, no sealing marks are damaged, after verification the instrument 
suffered no obvious modification, its errors do not exceed the maximum 
permissible in service errors. The inspection of a measuring instrument may 
be done only after verification.
k) International System of Units or Systeme International d'Unites (SI), in 
French - refers to a modern metric system establishing seven base units 
for base quantities namely metre for length, kilogram for mass, second for 
time, ampere for electric current, kelvin for thermodynamic temperature, 
mole for amount of substance and candela for luminous intensity. The 
derived units of the SI (e.g. metre per second, watt, newton, etc.) are then 
formed as products of powers of the base units, according to the algebraic 
relations that define the corresponding derived quantities in terms of the 
base quantities.
l) 
Legal metrological controls- refer to a series of evaluations and periodic 
checks performed on regulated measuring instruments throughout their


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lifetime to monitor if they are still suitable for their intended use. For 
prepackaged products, they refer to the checking of the quantities 
contained in the package with reference to the quantity indicated in the 
label.
m) Legal metrology- refers to the practice and process of applying regulatory 
structure and enforcement to measurements and measuring instruments to 
ensure trade and legal decisions are fair, and that the health, safety and 
interest of every citizen and his environment are protected against possible 
abuse related to wrong measurements.
n) Legal units of measurement - refer to units of measurement required or 
permitted by regulations.
o) Measurement standard - refers to a material measure, measuring 
instrument, reference material or measuring system intended to define, 
realize, conserve or reproduce a unit, or one or more values of a quantity 
to serve as a reference.
p) Measuring instrument- refers to a device used for making measurements, 
alone or in conjunction with one or more supplementary devices. This may 
be an indicating measuring instrument or a material measure.
q) Metre Convention - refers to a diplomatic treaty which established a 
permanent organizational structure for member governments to act in 
common accord on all matters relating to metrology.
r) 
Metrological traceability - refers to the property of a measurement result 
whereby the result can be related to a reference through a documented 
unbroken chain of calibrations, each contributing to the measurement 
uncertainty.
s) Metrology - refers to the science of measurement and its application. It 
includes all theoretical and practical aspects of measurement.
t) 
National accreditation body- refers to a national organization which attests 
to the competence and impartiality of conformity assessment bodies 
(testing and calibration laboratories, certification and inspection bodies), 
according to internationally accepted standards.


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u) National measurement standards - refer to measurement standards 
recognized by national authority to serve as the basis for assigning quantity 
values to other measurement standards for the kind of quantity concerned 
in a state or economy.
v) National Measurement System (NMS) - refers to the collective 
infrastructure of national facilities, expertise, knowledge and research, and 
is also a legal framework for reliable, consistent and internationally 
recognized measurement. The infrastructure encompasses essential 
elements of both the public and private sectors.
w) National metrology institutes - refer to bodies with the responsibility of 
maintaining the national measurement standards and disseminating the SI 
Units nationally (i.e. they provide metrological traceability).
x) International Organization for Legal Metrology or Organisation 
Internationale de Metroiogie Legate (OIML), in French - refers to an 
intergovernmental organization comprising of one hundred twenty-four 
(124) governments that establishes the coordination and harmonization at 
the international level the administrative and technical regulations applied 
to measurements and measuring instruments passed by different 
governments.
y) 
OIML Recommendations - refer to model regulations that establish the 
metrological characteristics required of certain measuring instruments and 
which specify methods and equipment for checking their conformity. These 
model regulations are concerned with the acceptable tolerances referred to 
as maximum permissible errors, within which regulated measurements and 
measuring instruments should operate despite variations in temperature 
and humidity, power supply and electromagnetic interference.
z) 
Prepackaged products - refer to commodities that are enclosed in a 
container or wrapped in any manner, and for which their quantities have 
been determined and indicated on their labels prior to being offered for 
sale. The quantity contained cannot be changed without the prepackaged 
product being opened or doing a perceptible modification.


1 
aa) Proficiency testing - refers to a comparison activity that determines the
2 
continuous performance of individual laboratories for specific tests or
3 
measurements for regular monitoring,
4 
bb) Regionai Metroiogy Laboratory- refers to a body under the DOST Regional
5 
Offices tasked to provide calibration and measurement services to
6 
stakeholders in the regions.
7 
cc) Working measurement standard - refers to a measurement standard that
8 
is used routinely to calibrate or verify measuring instruments or measuring
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systems
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Sec. 6. Nationai Measurement Institute of the Phiiippines. - The National
11 
Metrology Division (NMD), a division under Industrial Technology Development
12 
Institute responsible for establishing and maintaining the national measurement
13 
standards in physical quantities, is hereby transformed to the National Measurement
14 
Institute of the Philippines (NMIPhil). Thereafter, all powers, functions, duties, records,
15 
files, and assets including plantilla positions of the NMD shall be transferred to the
16 
NMIPhil, There shall be no diminution of rank and salaries, allowances and benefits of
17 
transferred employees. New employees of NMIPhil shall be entitled to the same
18 
allowances and benefits as those of the transferred employees.
19 
The NMIPhil shall be designated as the country's national metrology institute.
20 
It shall be an attached agency of the DOST for policy, program coordination and
21 
administrative supervision.
22 
The NMIPhil shall be headed by an Executive Director. The Executive Director
23 
shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation by the Secretary of the
24 
DOST and shall receive the benefits, privileges and emoluments equivalent to the rank
25 
of Undersecretary.
26 
As the chief executive officer of the NMIPhil, the Executive Director shall
27 
exercise general supervision and control to its technical and administrative personnel
28 
and shall be assisted by three (3) Deputy Directors for Scientific and Industrial
29 
Metrology, Legal Metrology and Quality Management System, Finance and
30 
Administration, to be appointed by the President.
31 
The NMIPhil, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management
32 
(DBM) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), shall determine the appropriate


1 
administrative and technical support complement necessary for the effective and
2 
efficient operations of the Institute, which includes but not limited to the foilowing
3 
Divisions:
4 
a) Mass and Reiated Quantities Division;
5 
b) Metrology-In-Chemistry and Biometrology Division;
6 
c) Photometry and Radiometry Division;
7 
d) Thermometry and Hygrometry Division;
8 
e) Length and Dimensionai Metrology Division;
9 
f) Eiectricity and Magnetism Division;
10 
g) Time and Frequency Division;
11 
h) Metrological Controls and Registration Division;
12 
i) National Regulators and Laboratories Liaison Division;
13 
j) Poiicy and Legisiation Division;
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k) National Metrology Training and Proficiency Testing Division;
15 
I) Finance and Administrative Division;
16 
m) Planning, Information Technology, and Quality Management Division; and
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n) Public Information and External Affairs Division.
18 
Sec. 7. Modernization of Physical Resources and Operational Techniques. - This
19 
shail entail the acquisition and/or upgrade of state-of-the-art instruments, equipment,
20 
facilities and systems. It also includes the creation of a Fluman Resource Development
21 
Program that will ensure that the country's measurement system is in accordance with
22 
international best practices to support confidence in measurements for reguiation,
23 
trade and manufacturing.
24 
Sec. 8. Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities of the National Measurement
25 
Institute of the Philippines. - The NMIPhil shall have the following functions:
26 
a) maintain and continuousiy update the national measurement standards in
27 
all relevant fields for the Philippines; as such the NMIPhii shali guarantee
28 
that aii meteoroiogical laboratories, infrastructure, equipment, instruments,
29 
artifacts, reference standards and other similar articles are in good
30 
condition, internationally compliant, reliant and other qualities that may be
31 
required in the future;


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b) provide metrological traceability to the realization of the International 
System of Units (SI) for measurements done in the country;
c) facilitate international harmonization and comparability of measurements 
including participation in related international meteorological activities, e.g. 
proficiency testing, peer review, research and development;
d) carry out the type evaluation/approval activities of measuring instruments, 
or provide support to bodies designated for this function;
e) appoint competent laboratories as "Designated Institutes" for specific 
measurement fields of national interest not covered by the national 
metrology institute e.g. ionizing radiation and time of the day among 
others;
f) 
offer the necessary advice and technical support to the government, 
industry, commerce and the public in measurement related issues;
g) engage and/or coordinate research and development work in metrology;
h) strengthen the collaboration with calibration laboratories in the areas of 
capacity building and harmonization of measurement procedures;
i) 
disseminate knowledge and competencies in metrology through education 
and capacity building programs to relevant regulatory bodies and other 
entities responsible for the implementation of this Act;
j) 
coordinate with other local institutes/bodies having metrological 
responsibilities;
k) represent the Philippines' interest in international and regional metrology 
organizations, consultative committee meetings and working groups;
l) 
strengthen and develop a continuing human resource development 
program; Provided, That capability building activities needed to upgrade 
capacities of technical personnel that may require travel abroad bonds 
them to equivalent return of service as determined by existing laws. 
Otherwise, the NMIPhil may invite foreign experts to conduct trainings, 
render technical services such as repair, calibration and the like, which shall 
be charged to its funds; and,
m) provide support to Quality Infrastructure-related institutes, especially 
standardization and accreditation in aspects related to metrology.


1 
Sec. 9. National Measurement Standards. - The NMIPhil shall periodically
2 
undertake meteorological activities, calibration, re-calibration and other related
3 
activities to effectively undertake its functions, duties and responsibilities, and comply
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with international standards.
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Any equipment, instrument, artifact, and/or other National Measurement
6 
Standards used by NMIPhil that shall be subject to such activities, including proficiency
7 
testing, comparison measurements, preventive maintenance and repair, requiring
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foreign technical services; such processes shall be exempt from any taxes, dues, and
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other impositions by the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue or by the
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Secretary of Finance. The implementing mechanism shall be included in the
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Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act.
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Sec. 10. Linkages and Affiliations. - The NMIPhil shall lead the country towards
13 
becoming globally competitive through the following memberships:
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a) Signatory to the Metre Convention;
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b) Signatory of the International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML)
16 
Convention;
17 
c) Full Member of the Asia Pacific Metrology Programme (APMP); and
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d) Full Member of the Asia Pacific Legal Metrology Forum (APLMF).
19 
The NMIPhil shall continue to collaborate with other international, regional
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metrology organizations, and establish local and international linkages and/or
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affiliations, associations other than those mentioned, that will greatly contribute to the
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country's national measurement system.
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Sec. 11. National Metrology Board. - The National Metrology Board (NMB),
24 
hereinafter referred to as the Board, shall be chaired by the Secretary of the DOST. It
25 
shall be composed of the Secretaries of the following agencies or their duly authorized
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representative preferably with the rank of Undersecretary, as ex officio members:
27 
a) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);
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b) Department of Health (DOH);
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c) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);
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d) Department of Energy (DOE);
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e) Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP);
32 
f) National Measurement Institute of the Philippines (NMIPhil);
10


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g) One (1) representative each from the:
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i. manufacturing industry sector;
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ii. local manufacturer of measuring instruments; and
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iii. private calibration laboratories / professional metrology association of
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national membership;
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Each member of the Board shall serve with a term of (3) years to be appointed
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by the Secretary of the DOST.
8 
The Board may call upon the duly authorized representatives of the following
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departments/agencies and private institutions such as, but not limited to:
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a) Department of Agriculture (DA);
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b) Department of Justice (DOJ);
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c) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);
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d) Department of National Defense (DND);
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e) Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT);
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f) Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);
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g) Department of Transportation (DOTr);
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h) Local Government Units (LGUs);
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i) Bureau of Customs (BOC);
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j) Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC);
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k) Food and Drug Administration (FDA);
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I) Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA);
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m) Manila Electric Company (MERALCO);
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n) Manila Water Company, Inc.;
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o) Maynilad Water Services, Inc.;
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p) Metropolitan Manila Development Agency (MMDA);
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q) Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS);
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r) National Food Authority (NFA);
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s) National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS);
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t) National Telecommunications Commission (NTC);
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u) Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB);
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v) Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA);
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w) Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA);
11


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as the Board deems necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.
2 
The Board shall convene at least twice a year. Special meetings may be
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convened upon the request of the Chair or majority of the Board members. Each
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member of the Board shall be entitled to incentives and allowances for his/her
5 
attendance to regular and special meetings based on prevailing DOST guidelines.
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The NMIPhil is hereby mandated to serve as the Board's Secretariat.
7 
Sec. 12. Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities of the National Metrology
8 
Board. -The Board shall be responsible for legal metrological controls in the country
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through the coordination with other executive branches of government, and ensuring
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uniformity of procedures in the same prescribed manner and their implementation.
11 
In the exercise of its functions, duties and responsibilities, the Board shall have
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the power to delegate authority to public and private entities to ensure that
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measurements and measuring instruments used in trade, health, safety, law
14 
enforcement and environmental protection are subjected to legal metrological controls
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and are complying with the relevant regulations.
16 
The Board shall likewise perform such other functions for the full
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implementation of this Act.
18 
Sec. 13. National Measurement System. - The National Measurement System
19 
(NMS) shall provide and maintain the necessary infrastructure to support confidence
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in measurements used for regulation, trade, and manufacturing in the country. The
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NMS shall cover the following:
22 
a) legal units of measurement;
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b) national measurement standards;
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c) hierarchy of measurement standards and metrological traceability;
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d) national legal metrology regulations for measurements and measuring
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instruments;
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e) legal metrological controls;
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f) certification system; and
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g) accreditation system.
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Sec. 14. Registration of Regulated Measuring Instruments. - The State shall
31 
require the registration of all measuring instruments used in trade, health, safety, law
12


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enforcement and environment protection with the reievant National Regulators and
2 
Local Government Units (LGUs).
3 
Those measuring instruments used as working measurement standards by the
4 
National Regulators, LGUs and Board-authorized entities in the implementation of legal
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metrological controls shall be registered with the Board, through the NMB Secretariat.
6 
Sec. 15. Legal Units of Measurement - The International System of Units (SI)
7 
and combinations of those units shall be the legal units of measurement mandated to
8 
be used in the Philippines, including the following;
9 
a) non-SI units accepted for use with the SI (e.g. minute, hour, and day for
10 
time, hectare for area, tonne for mass, bar for pressure, angstrom for
11 
length, nautical mile for distance, decibel for sound level); and
12 
b) non-SI units allowed by international agreements (e.g feet for altitude
13 
navigation and mmHg for blood pressure).
14 
Sec. 16. Hierarchy of Measurement Standards. - The NMIPhil and its
15 
Designated Institutes shall maintain the national measurement standards for the legal
16 
units having the highest accuracy for the country, and provide calibrations at
17 
appropriate levels of accuracy for the calibration laboratories. National Regulators and
18 
Board-authorized public or private entities to disseminate the SI units. The national
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measurement standards shall in all cases be those assumed to be the most accurate
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measurement standards of the country.
21 
Private and public calibration laboratories, including the Regional Metrology
22 
Laboratories under the DOST Regional Offices, shall in turn use working measurement
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standards that have been calibrated by the NMIPhil to provide accurate calibrations
24 
and measurements to the industry and community. Similarly, National Regulators,
25 
LGUs and entities authorized by the Board shall use working measurement standards
26 
calibrated by the NMIPhil and Regional Metrology Laboratories to provide legal
27 
metrological controls of measuring instruments and measurements, on the premise
28 
that their working measurement standards are of the same accuracy level as those of
29 
the calibration laboratories.
30 
Sec. 17. Metrological Traceability. - Measurements in both the regulated and
31 
non-regulated areas shall be traceable to the realization of the SI through the national
13


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measurement standards maintained by the NMIPhil and its Designated Institutes to
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ensure international compatibility and acceptance of measurement results.
3 
For traceability not provided through the NMIPhil and its Designated Institutes,
4 
the State shall recognize measurement standards of other national metrology
5 
institutes; Provided, That they are internationally accepted by the global metrology
6 
community.
7 
Sec. 18. Legal Metrological Controls. - Measuring instruments used in trade,
8 
health, safety, law enforcement and environment protection shall be evaluated by the
9 
National Regulators, LGUs and other Board-authorized public and private entities
10 
based on the relevant OIML Recommendations, ASEAN Guidelines and/or Board-
11 
authorized document standards.
12 
Compliance with quantity and labelling requirements of prepackaged products
13 
shall be checked by the National Regulators, Board-authorized public and private
14 
entities in accordance with the ASEAN Common Requirements of Prepackaged
15 
Products, relevant OIML Recommendations, ASEAN Guidelines and/or Board-
16 
authorized document standards.
17 
Sec. 19. Right of Access.- l\\e National Regulators, LGUs and Board-authorized
18 
public or private entities, upon presentation of their credentials and in the performance
19 
of their duties, shall have the right of access to every establishment or commercial
20 
premise, where regulated measuring instruments are, or may be installed, kept or
21 
used.
22 
In the same manner, they shall also have the right of access to every premise
23 
or facility where prepackaged products are manufactured, or may be filled, packed,
24 
labeled, kept or offered for sale.
25 
Any officer or agent of the establishments, commercial premises or other
26 
facilities who shall refuse the inspection as referred to herein, shall be liable to the
27 
penalties imposed under Section 26 of this Act.
28 
Sec. 20. Certification System. - The DTI shall establish a certification system to
29 
ensure that legal metrological controls are carried-out only by competent personnel.
30 
Sec. 21. Accreditation System. - The DTI shall maintain an accreditation system
31 
to ensure the technical competence of calibration and testing laboratories in the
14


1 
performance of their services under the terms of ISO/IEC 17025 or the "Genera!
2 
Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Caiibration Laboratories."
3 
The Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB), as the national accreditation body
4 
of the Philippines under the DTI, shall be responsible to accredit inspection, testing
5 
and certifying bodies, and other bodies offering conformity assessment services.
6 
Sec. 22. Prohibited Acts. - The following shall constitute prohibited acts of any
7 
person or juridical person and are hereby declared unlawful:
8 
a) to sell, offer, or expose for sale goods or products with a quantity less than
9 
the quantity represented;
10 
b) to represent the quantity in any other manner or intending to mislead or in
11 
any way deceive another person;
12 
c) failure to register regulated measuring instruments;
13 
d) use of unregistered regulated measuring instruments;
14 
e) hinder or obstruct any National Regulators, LGUs and Board-authorized
15 
entities in the performance of their duties;
16 
f) impersonate a National Regulator, LGUs and Board-authorized public and
17 
private entity;
18 
g) affix fake or undue conformity marking or verification marks;
19 
h) use of units other than the legal units of measurement in trade, commercial
20 
transactions, documentation and advertisements for products and services,
21 
publications, or trainings;
22 
i) use of regulated measuring instruments which have not been submitted to
23 
legal metrological control;
24 
j) use of regulated measuring instruments which have failed the legal
25 
metrological control and are giving false/wrong measurements;
26 
k) affix false conformity markings or affix conformity markings illegally on
27 
measuring instruments;
28 
I) 
falsification of documents relative to legal metrological control;
29 
m) remove or tamper any tag, seal, or mark from any weight or measure or
30 
measuring instrument without being duly authorized by the proper
31 
authority; and
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1 
n) manipulate software and/or hardware of measuring instruments to give
2 
false measurements.
3 
Sec. 23. National Metrology Training Center. - There shall be established a
4 
National Metrology Training Center under the supervision of the NMIPhil to undertake
5 
training on metrology for building the competence and capabilities of metrology-
6 
related entities and implementing legal metrological controls in the country.
7 
Sec. 24. Public Information/Advocacy. - The NMIPhil, in collaboration with
8 
other concerned government agencies and stakeholders, shall engage in information
9 
campaigns and advocacy programs to increase the public's awareness on metrology
10 
and instill greater appreciation of metrology by the public.
11 
Sec. 25. Education. - The NMIPhil, Department of Education (DepEd),
12 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and other concerned government agencies
13 
shall formulate the design and details of a curriculum on metrology and its inclusion
14 
in all levels of the Philippines' education system.
15 
Sec. 26. Penalties. - Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall be
16 
penalized by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than five (5)
17 
years or fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (Php 50,000.00) but not more than
18 
Five hundred thousand pesos (Php 500,000.00) or both, upon the discretion of the
19 
court: Provided, however. That if the violator is a corporation, firm, partnership or
20 
association, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president or manager or any officer
21 
thereof who knows or ought to have known the commission of the offense. Provided,
22 
finally. That in case the offender is an alien engaged in business in the country, his
23 
license shall be revoked and shall be ipso facto deported after service of sentence
24 
without need of further proceedings.
25 
Sec. 27. Transitory Provisions. - The transfer of functions, assets, funds,
26 
equipment, properties, transactions, and personnel of the affected agency, and the
27 
formulation of the internal organic structure, staffing pattern, operating system, and
28 
revised budget of NMIPhil, shall be completed within six (6) months from the effectivity
29 
of this Act, during which time, the existing personnel shall continue to assume their
30 
posts in holdover capacities until new appointments are issued: Provided, further. That
31 
there shall be no diminution of rank and salaries, allowances and benefits of
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1 
transferred employees. New employees of NMI shall be entitled to the same
2 
allowances and benefits as those of the transferred employees.
3 
Provided, finally, That after the transformation of the National Metrology
4 
Division as specified in Section 6 of this Act, the DOST, in coordination with the DBM,
5 
shall determine and create new positions.
6 
Sec. 28. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
7 
this Act shall be initially charged against the current fiscal year appropriations of the
8 
DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI). Thereafter, the amount
9 
needed for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the General
10 
Appropriations Act.
11 
In addition to the GAA, eighty percent (80%) of the fees and charges collected
12 
by the NMIPhil and the DOST Regional Offices from metrology-related works including,
13 
but not limited to, calibration and measurement services, technical trainings, and
14 
proficiency testing services shall be retained and correspondingly used by the NMIPhil
15 
and DOST Regional Offices in the upkeep and modernization of measurement
16 
standards and facilities, purchase of measurement standards and equipment,
17 
promotion of metrology culture, awareness raising programs and advocacy
18 
campaigns, among others. The remaining amount shall be remitted to the National
19 
Treasury.
20 
Sec. 29. Impiementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOST, in coordination with
21 
other concerned government departments, agencies and representatives mentioned
22 
in Section 11 hereof, shall 3 from the effectivity of this Act issue the necessary
23 
implementing rules and regulations of this Act.
24 
Sec. 30. Progress Report. - The Executive Director of the NMIPhil shall prepare
25 
an annual report on the status of the implementation of the Modernization Program
26 
of the NMIPhil which shall be submitted, through the Secretary of the DOST, to the
27 
President and to the Chairpersons of the Committees on Science and Technology of
28 
the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than June 30 of the succeeding
29 
year.
30 
Sec. 31. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
31 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
32 
affected shall remain in full force and effect.
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1 
Sec. 32. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
2 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
3 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
4 
accordingly.
5 
Sec. 33. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
6 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
18