EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
}
F irs t R e g u la r S e ssio n  
}
S E N A T E
S.B. No. A 8  7
ipliiir C. tlr' ■
'19 
JUL 15 
.''1C -.52
R'lC'rl'
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO I
AN ACT
MODERNIZING THE NATIONAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM (NMS) OF THE 
PHILIPPINES, CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE NATIONAL 
MEASUREMENT INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 2003, Republic Act 9236, also know n as the “N ational Metrology 
Act of 2003” established the N ational M easurem ent Infrastructure System  
(NMIS). The N ational Metrology Division (NMD) of the Industrial Technology 
Developm ent Institute (ITDI) is the one tasked to develop, m aintain, and 
dissem inate m easurem ent stan d a rd s in the countiy. However, coping with 
today’s rapid technological changes have becom e m ore difficult due to its 
limited fund, personnel and facility.
Metrology affect stan d ard s, technical regulations and conform ity 
assessm ent. It plays a crucial role in the developm ent of society, trade, and 
consum er protection. Verily, its scope is too broad to be u n d er a m ulti­
disciplinary in stitute such as ITDl.
Hence, the proposed legislation seeks to transform  th e NMD into 
N ational M easurem ent Institute of the Philippines (NMIPhil), w hich shall be 
directly attached to the D epartm ent of Science and Technology (DOST). 
Also set forth in the bill are the distinct functions of the NMIPhil an d  the 
N ational Metrology Board (NMB). The latter’s com position, as created u n d er


Section 5 of RA 9236, shall now include the Secretary or duly authorized 
representative of the following agencies/offices: D epartm ent of Energy 
(DOE), D epartm ent of Public W orks an d  Highways (DPWH), D epartm ent of 
N ational Defense (DND), D epartm ent of Inform ation and Technology (DICT), 
D epartm ent of T ransportation (DOTr), Local A uthorities of the Philippines, 
an d  C om m ittees on Science and Technology of the Senate and H ouse of 
R epresentatives. The 
NMB 
shall be responsible for the control of 
m easurem ent, ensuring harm onization of policies/regulations, an d  its 
proper im plem entation and coordination.
This will enable our country to formally establish its linkages w ith 
international and regional m etrology organizations a n d /o r associations 
su ch  as M etre Convention, Asia Pacific Metrology Program m e (APMP) and 
the Asia Pacific Legal Metrology Forum  (APLMF) am ong others. A national 
m easurem ent system  th a t is consistent w ith the ASEAN and international 
stan d a rd s will m inim ize m arket failure, reduce transaction costs, increase 
econom ic efficiency, and support innovation. Filipinos will no longer have 
to settle w ith m easurem ents w hich Eire “medyo tam a”, “pw ede na y arf or 
“sakto na”. Ultimately, the bill is geared tow ards im proving our quality of 
life.
T hus, the passage of th is bill is earnestly sought.
VICENTE/C. SOTTO III


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
F irs t R e g u la r S e ssio n  
}
. 
. - w  C
DiU‘ 
'
S E N A T E  
LB. No. 
'x 0 7
'19 
JUL 15 
Ain 5 2
t
RrCr;
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C.‘ SOTTO III
AN ACT
MODERNIZING THE NATIONAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM (NMS) OF THE 
PHILIPPINES, CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE NATIONAL 
MEASUREMENT INSTITUTE 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 assem bled:
1 
Section 1. T itle. -  This Act shall be know n an d  cited a s the
2 
“M odernized N ational M easurem ent System  Act”.
3 
Section 2. D eclaratio n  o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared to be the
4 
policy of the State to facilitate the developm ent of scientific and technical
5 
knowledge and progress in the national econom y by providing a m odernized
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N ational M easurem ent System  (NMS) th a t will ensure the integrity of
7 
m easurem ents 
in 
the 
countiy, 
m eet 
regional 
and 
international
8 
requirem ents, and provide support for the com petitiveness of Philippine
9 
products and services. The State shall also support the undertaking  of
10 
necessary 
activities 
to 
prom ote 
metrology, 
to 
develop 
appropriate
11 
in frastructures, to support research in metrology and to protect the health,
12 
safety and interest of every citizen and his environm ent against possible
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ab u se related to m easurem ents.
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The State shall support the harm onization of national requirem ents,
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including technical 
regulations, 
docum ent stan d ard s and 
conform ity
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assessm en t procedures, w ith international requirem ents as envisioned in
1


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tile ASEAN Econom ic C om m unity (AEC), World Trade O rganization (WTO)
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an d  other international agreem ents an d  covenants resulting to free flow of
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goods and services, a n d  a predictable trading environm ent.
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The 
State 
shall 
provide 
support 
to 
m etrology 
research 
and 
developm ent for the purpose of continuously im proving the national 
m easurem ent stan d ard s and their m easurem ent uncertainties, developing 
novel m easurem ent techniques and technologies aim ing a t Philippine 
industry take-up to stim ulate industrial innovation; 
com ing-up w ith 
solutions for societal challenges focusing on contributions for energy 
efficiency, food security, environm ent protection, and citizen’s health, 
security an d  econom ic well-being; and ad d ress locally the m easurem ent 
needs of society an d  industry.
Section 3. S cope. -  This Act shall cover all agencies, institutions, 
entities involved in m etrological activities and processes, both private an d  
public.
16 
Section 4. O bjectives. -  In furtherance of the policies enunciated in
17 
th is Act, the following objectives shall be pursued:
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a. Transform  the existing N ational Metrology Division of the Industrial
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Technology D evelopm ent Institute to th e N ational M easurem ent
20 
Institute of the Philippines directly u n d er the D epartm ent of
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Science an d  Technology;
22 
b. D esignate the N ational M easurem ent Institute of the Philippines as
23 
the country’s national metrology institute;
24 
c. E nsure th a t m easurem ents in the country are reliable;
25 
d. S trengthen and harm onize the country’s m easurem ent system  in
26 
accordance to international best practices to support confidence to
27 
in m easurem ents in for regulation, trade an d  m anufacturing;
28 
e. Im plem ent legal m etrological controls of m easuring in stru m en ts in
29 
the country—in the in terest of fair trade, health, safety, law
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enforcem ent, an d  environm ent protection.


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f. D issem inate knowledge on state-of-the-art calibration techniques 
an d  develop com petencies on legal m etrological controls through 
capacity building program s; and
g. Foster a m etrology culture th a t will instill a keen appreciation of 
m etrology as a discipline through the integration of metrology 
courses in the educational system .
7 
Section 5. D efin itio n  o f te rm s . -F or the purpose of harm onizing w ith
8 
international b est practices, the following term s are in reference to the
9 
International V ocabulary of Metrology and International V ocabulary of Legal
10 
Metrology:
11 
a. A ccreditation -  is the process in w hich a n  authoritative body
12 
fonnally recognizes the com petence, im partiality and capability of
13 
an  
organization 
to 
carry 
o u t 
specific 
activities, 
such 
as
14 
certification, testing, calibration an d  inspection.
15 
b. ASEAN Com m on R equirem ents of Prepackaged Products -  is a
16 
regionally-agreed docum ent specifying the labelling requirem ents
17 
an d  allowed quantity deficiency in prepackaged products for
18 
ASEAN M ember S tates nam ely B m nei D arussalam , Cam bodia,
19 
Indonesia, Lao PDR, M alaysia, M yanm ar, Philippines, Singapore,
20 
T hailand an d  Viet Nam.
21 
c. Asia Pacific Legal Metrology Forum  (APLMF) -  is a grouping of legal
22 
metrology authorities from the Asia Pacific Econom ic Co-operation
23 
M em ber econom ies and other econom ies in the Pacific Rim for the
24 
developm ent of legal m etrology an d  prom otion of free an d  open
25 
trade in the Asia Pacific region through harm onization and
26 
rem oval of technical or adm inistrative barriers to trade in the field
27 
of legal metrology.
28 
d. Asia Pacific Metrology Program m e (APMP) -  is a grouping of
29 
national m etrology in stitu tes from the Asia-Pacific region for the
30 
prom otion an d  support of a m easurem ent infrastructure in the
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Asia Pacific region th a t facilitates international trade, im proves
32 
industrial efficiency and com petitiveness, en su res equity in the


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m arketplace, and enhances the quality of life an d  the environm ent 
through reliable m easurem ents.
e. 
C alibration -  operation th at, u n d er specified conditions, in a first 
step, establishes a relation betw een the quantity values w ith 
m easurem ent uncertainties provided by m easurem ent stan d ard s 
an d  corresponding indications w ith associated m easurem ent 
u n certain ties and, in a second step, u ses th is inform ation to 
establish a relation for obtaining a m easurem ent resu lt from an 
indication.
f. 
C alibration laboratories -  public or private entities th a t perform  
te sts a n d /o r calibrations in a perm anent, tem porary, or rem ote 
location.
g. 
Certification - procedure by w hich a third party provides w ritten 
attestatio n  th a t a product, process or service m eets specified 
requirem ents.
h. Conform ity assessm en t -  is a set of processes th a t show s a 
product, service or system  m eets specified requirem ents. The m ain 
form s of conform ity assessm en t are testing, certification, and 
inspection.
i. 
D esignated In stitutes -  are organizations or entities appointed by a 
country’s 
national 
m etrology 
institute 
to 
hold 
specific 
m easurem ent stan d a rd s or services th a t are not covered by the 
national m etrology institute.
j. 
Inspection - exam ination of a m easuring instrxim ent to ascertain 
all or som e of the following: verification m ark a n d /o r certificate is 
valid, no sealing m arks are dam aged, after verification the 
in stru m en t suffered no obvious m odification, its errors do not 
exceed the m axim um  perm issible in service errors. Inspection of a 
m easuring in stru m en t m ay be done only after verification.
k. International System  of U nits or System e International d'U nites 
(SI) in French -  is the m odern m etric system  establishing seven 
base u n its for base q uantities nam ely m etre for length, kUogram 
for m ass, second for tim e, am pere for electric current, kelvin for


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therm odynam ic tem perature, mole for am o u n t of substance and 
candela for lum inous intensity. The derived u n its of the SI (e.g. 
m etre per second, w att, new ton, etc.) are then formed a s products 
of pow ers of the base u n its, according to the algebraic relations 
th a t define the corresponding derived q uantities in term s of the 
base quantities.
l. 
Legal M etrological C ontrols -  series of evaluations and periodic 
checks perform ed on regulated m easuring in stru m en ts throughout 
th eir lifetime to m onitor if they are still suitable for their intended 
use. For prepackaged products, it refers to the checking of the 
q uantities contained in the package w ith reference to the quantity 
indicated in the label.
m. Legal Metrology -  is the practice and process of applying regulatory 
stru c tu re  an d  enforcem ent to m easurem ents an d  m easuring 
in stru m en ts to en su re trade an d  legal decisions are fair, and th a t 
th e health, safety and in terest of every citizen an d  his environm ent 
are 
protected 
against 
possible 
ab u se 
related 
to 
wrong 
m easurem ents.
n. Legal U nits of M easurem ent - u n its of m easurem ent required or 
perm itted by regulations.
o. M easurem ent S tandard -  is a m aterial m easure, m easuring 
in stru m en t, reference m aterial or m easuring system  intended to 
define, realize, conserve or reproduce a unit, or one or m ore values 
of a  quantity to serve a s a reference.
p. M easuring 
In stru m en t 
-  
is 
a 
device 
u sed  
for 
m aking 
m easurem ents, 
alone or in conjunction w ith one or m ore 
supplem entary devices. This m ay be an  indicating m easuring 
in stru m en t or a m aterial m easure.
q. M etre Convention -  is a diplom atic treaty w hich established a 
p erm anent organizational stru ctu re for m em ber governm ents to 
a ct in com m on accord on all m atters relating to metrology.


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t.
m etrological traceability- is the property of a m easurem ent resu lt 
w hereby the resu lt can be related to a reference through a 
docum ented unbroken chain of calibrations, each contributing to 
th e m easurem ent uncertainty.
Metrology -  science of m easurem ent and its application. It 
includes all theoretical an d  practical aspects of m easurem ent. 
N ational A ccreditation Body -  is a national organization w hich 
a tte sts 
to 
the 
com petence 
an d  
im partiality 
of 
conform ity 
assessm en t 
bodies 
(testing 
an d  
calibration 
laboratories, 
certification and inspection bodies), according to internationally 
accepted stan d ard s.
u. N ational 
M easurem ent 
S tan d ard s 
- 
m easurem ent 
stan d ard  
recognized by national authority to serve in a state or econom y as 
th e basis for assigning quantity values to other m easurem ent 
stan d ard s for the kind of quantity concerned.
V. 
N ational M easurem ent System  (NMS) -  collective infrastru ctu re of 
national facilities, expertise, knowledge and research, and is also a 
legal 
fram ew ork 
for 
reliable, 
consistent 
and 
internationally 
recognized 
m easurem ent. 
The 
infrastructure 
encom passes 
essential elem ents of both the public an d  private sector.
w. N ational Metrology In stitu tes -  are bodies w ith the responsibility of 
m aintaining 
the 
national 
m easurem ent 
stan d ard s 
and 
dissem inating the SI U nits nationally (i.e. they provide m etrological 
traceability).
International O rganization for Legal Metrology or O rganisation 
Internationale de Metrologie Legale (OIML) in French -  is an 
intergovernm ental organization com prising of one h u n d red  tw enty- 
six (126) governm ents th a t establishes the coordination an d  
harm onization a t the international level the adm inistrative and 
technical regulations applied to m easurem ents and m easuring 
in stru m en ts passed by different governm ents.
X.


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y. 
OIML R ecom m endations - are model regulations th a t establish the 
m etrological 
characteristics 
required 
of 
certain 
m easuring 
in stru m en ts and w hich specify m ethods and equipm ent for 
checking their conform ity. These model regulations are concerned 
w ith the acceptable tolerances referred to a s m axim um  perm issible 
errors, w ithin w hich regulated m easurem ents and m easuring 
in stru m en ts should operate despite variations in tem perature and 
hum idity, pow er supply and electrom agnetic interference.
z. 
Prepackaged Products - 
are com m odities th a t are enclosed in a 
container or w rapped in any m anner, and for w hich their 
q uantities have been determ ined an d  indicated on their labels 
prior to being offered for sale. The quantity contained cannot be 
changed w ithout the prepackaged product being opened or doing a 
perceptible modification.
aa. Proficiency Testing -  is a com parison activity th a t determ ines the 
perform ance 
of individual 
laboratories for specific te sts or 
m easurem ents and is used to m onitor laboratories’ continuing 
perform ance.
bb. W orking M easurem ent S tandard -  is a m easurem ent stan d ard  th a t 
is u sed  routinely to calibrate or verify m easuring in stru m en ts or 
m easuring system s
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Section 6. N atio n al M ea su rem en t In s titu te  o f th e  P h ilip p in es. -
23 
The 
N ational Metrology Division 
(NMD), a division u n d er Industrial
24 
Technology 
D evelopm ent 
Institute 
responsible 
for 
establishing 
and
25 
m aintaining the national m easurem ent stan d ard s in physical quantities, is
26 
hereby transform ed to the N ational M easurem ent Institute of the Philippines
27 
(NMlPhil). Thereafter, all powers, functions, duties, records, files and asse ts
28 
including plantilla positions of the NMD shall be transferred to the NMIPhil.
29 
There shall be no dim inution of ran k  and salaries, allow ances and benefits
30 
of tr£insferred em ployees. New em ployees of NMIPhil shall be entitled to the
31 
sam e allow ances and benefits a s those of the transferred employees.


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The NMIPhil shall be designated a s the country’s national metrology
2 
institute. It shall be a n  attached agency of th e D epartm ent of Science and
3 
Technology (DOST) for policy, program  coordination and adm inistrative
4 
supervision.
5 
The NMIPhil shall be headed by a D irector G eneral. The D irector
6 
G eneral shall be appointed by the President upon recom m endation by the
7 
Secretary of the DOST and shall receive the benefits, privileges and
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em olum ents equivalent to the ran k  of U ndersecretary.
9 
As the chief executive officer of the NMIPhil, the D irector G eneral shall
10 
exercise general supervision an d  control to its technical and adm inistrative
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personnel and shall be assisted by a t least one (1) D eputy D irector G eneral.
12 
The NMIPhil, in coordination w ith the D epartm ent of B udget and
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M anagem ent an d  the Civil Service Com m ission, shall determ ine the
14 
appropriate adm inistrative an d  technical support com plem ent necessary for
15 
the effective an d  efficient operations of the Institute.
16 
Section 7. F u n c tio n s, D u ties A nd R esp o n sib ilities o f T he N ational
17 
M ea su rem en t In s titu te  o f th e  P h ilip p in es. -  The NMIPhil shall have the
18 
following functions:
19 
a. To m aintain and continuously u pdate the national m easurem ent
20 
stan d ard s in all relevant fields for the Philippines; as such the
21 
NMIPhil 
shall 
guarantee 
th a t 
all 
m etrological 
laboratories,
22 
in frastructure, 
equipm ent, 
instrum ents, 
artifacts, 
reference
23 
stan d a rd s an d  other sim ilar articles are in good condition,
24 
internationally com pliant and reliant and other qualities th a t may
25 
be required in the future;
26 
b. To provide m etrological traceabilily to the International System  of
27 
U nits (SI) for m easurem ents u sed  in regulations, trade and
28 
m anufacturing;
29 
c. To facilitate international harm onization and com parability of
30 
m easurem ents;


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d. To strengthen the collaboration w ith calibration laboratories in the 
areas of capacity building—and harm onization of m easurem ent 
procedures;
e. To offer technical support to industry in m easurem ent related 
issues;
f. To appoint com petent laboratories a s “D esignated In stitu tes” for 
specific m easurem ent fields of national interest not covered by the 
national m etrology in stitu te e.g. ionizing radiation an d  tim e am ong 
others;
g. To coordinate w ith other local in stitu tes/b o d ies having m etrological 
responsibilities (radiation, stan d ard  tim e and dissem ination, etc);
h. To dissem inate knowledge an d  com petencies in m etrology through 
education and capacity building program s to relevant regulatoiy 
bodies and other entities responsible for the im plem entation of 
legal metrological controls;
i. To engage a n d /o r coordinate research an d  developm ent work in 
metrology;
jr To strengthen an d  develop a hu m an  
resource developm ent 
program . Hence, there shall be a continuing h u m an  resource 
developm ent program ; provided th a t capacity building activities 
needed to upgrade capacities of technical personnel to a travel 
bond or its equivalent re tu rn  of service a s determ ined by existing 
laws. O therw ise, the NMIPhil m ay invite foreign experts to conduct 
trainings, render technical services such as repair, calibration and 
th e like, w hich shall be charged to its funds;
k. To represent the Philippines’ in terest in international and regional 
m etrology organizations;
l. To provide support to Q uality Infrastructure-related institutes, 
especially standardization an d  accreditation in asp ects related to 
metrology.
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Section 8. N atio n al M ea su rem en t S ta n d a rd s. -  The NMIPhil shall
32 
periodically u ndertake m etrological activities, calibration, re-calibration and


1 
oth er related activities to effectively u ndertake its functions, du ties and
2 
responsibilities, and comply w ith international stan d ard s.
3 
Any 
equipm ent, 
instrum ent, 
artifact, 
a n d /o r 
other 
N ational
4 
M easurem ent S tan d ard s used by NMlPhil th a t shall be subject to su ch
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activities, 
including 
proficiency 
testing, 
com parison 
m easurem ents,
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preventive m aintenance an d  repair, requiring foreign technical services;
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su ch  processes shall be exem pt from any taxes, dues, a n d  other im positions
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by the B ureau of C ustom s, B ureau of Internal Revenue or by the Secretary
9 
of Finance. The im plem enting m echanism  shall be included in the
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Im plem enting Rules and R egulations of th is Act.
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Section 9. M em berships o f th e  P h ilip p in es. -  The State shall ensure,
12 
through th e NMlPhil, th a t the Philippines’ m easurem ent system  is linked to
13 
the global metrology system  by becom ing a Signatory to the M etre
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C onvention, a Full M em ber of the Asia Pacific Metrology Program m e (APMP),
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a M ember State of the International O rganization for Legal Metrology (OIML)
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an d  a Full M em ber of the Asia Pacific Legal Metrology Forum  (APLMF).
17 
Linkages or affiliations to other international and regional metrology
18 
organizations a n d /o r associations, other th a n  those m entioned, th a t are of
19 
in terest to the country’s national m easurem ent system  shall be established.
20 
Section 10. N atio n al M etrology B oard. -  The N ational Metrology
21 
B oard (NMB), hereinafter referred to as the Board, shall be chaired by the
22 
Secretary of the DOST. It shall be com posed of the Secretaries of the
23 
following agencies or their duly authorized representative, preferably w ith
24 
the ran k  of U ndersecretary, a s ex officio m em bers;
25 
(a) D epartm ent of E nvironm ent an d  N atural R esources (DENR)
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(b) D epartm ent of H ealth (DOH)
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(c) D epartm ent of Trade an d  Industry (DTI)
28 
(d) D epartm ent of Energy (DOE)
29 
(e) G overnm ent 
Recognized 
body representative 
from 
the 
Local
30 
G overnm ent U nits
31 
(f) N ational M easurem ent Institute of the Philippines (NMlPhil)
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(g) O ne (1) representative each from the
2 
i. 
m anufacturing industry sector;
3 
ii. 
local m anufacturer of m easuring instrum ents; and
4 
iii. 
private 
calibration 
laboratories/professional 
metrology
5 
association of national m em bership;
6 
E ach m em ber shall be appointed by the Secretary of the DOST and
7 
shall have a term  of (3) years.
8 
W hen the Board deem s it necessary for the effective im plem entation of
9 
th is Act, it m ay call upon the h eads of the following departm en ts/ag en cies
10 
an d  private institu tio n s such as, b u t not Limited to:
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• D epartm ent of A griculture (DA)
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• D epartm ent of Ju stice (DOJ)
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• D epartm ent of Interior an d  Local G overnm ent (DILG)
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• D epartm ent of N ational Defense (DND)
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• D epartm ent of Inform ation C om m unication Technology (DICT)
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• D epartm ent of Public W orks an d  Highways (DPWH)
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• D epartm ent of T ransportation (DOTr)
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• 
Local G overnm ent U nits (LGUs)
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• 
B ureau of C ustom s (BOC)
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• 
Energy Regulatory C om m ission (ERC)
21 
• 
Food an d  D rug A dm inistration (FDA)
22 
• 
M anila International Airport A uthority (MIAA)
23 
• 
M anila Electric C om pany (MERALCO)
24 
• 
M anila W ater Com pany, Inc.
25 
• 
M aynilad W ater Services, Inc.
26 
• 
M etropolitan M anila Developm ent Agency (MMDA)
27 
• M etropolitan W aterw orks and Sewerage System  (MWSS)
28 
• N ational Food A uthority (NFA)
29 
• N ational M eat Inspection Service (NMIS)
30 
• N ational Telecom m unications C om m ission (NTC)
31 
• Oil Industry M anagem ent B ureau (OIMB)
32 
• 
Philippine D rug Enforcem ent Agency (PDEA)
11


1 
• 
Sugar Regulatory A uthority (SRA)
2 
The B oard shall convene a t least twice a year. Special m eetings m ay
3 
be convened upon the request of the C hair or m ajority of the Board
4 
m em bers. Each m em ber of th e Board shall be entitled to incentives and
5 
allow ances for h is /h e r attendance to regular an d  special m eetings based on
6 
prevailing DOST guidelines.
7 
The N ational M easurem ent Institute of the Philippines is hereby
8 
m andated to serve as the B oard's Secretariat.
9 
Section 11. F u n c tio n s, D u ties A nd R esp o n sib ilities o f th e  N atio n al
10 
M etrology B oard. -  The Board shall be responsible for the legal metrological
11 
controls in the country, in coordination w ith other executive brainches of
12 
governm ent. It shall ensure uniform ity of procedures an d  th eir proper
13 
im plem entation.
14 
In the exercise of its functions, duties an d  responsibilities, the Board
15 
shall have the power to engage both public an d  private entities in im posing
16 
its policies in order to en su re th a t m easurem ents and 
m easuring
17 
in stru m en ts u sed  in trade, health, safety, law enforcem ent and environm ent
18 
protection are subjected to legal m etrological controls and are com plying
19 
w ith the relevant regulations.
20 
The Board shall likewise perform  su ch  other functions w hich m ay be
21 
necessary in im plem enting th is Act.
22 
Section 
12. 
N ational 
M easu rem en t 
S y stem . 
-  The 
N ational
23 
M easurem ent System  (NMS) shall provide and m aintain the necessary
24 
in frastru ctu re to support confidence in m easurem ents used for regulation,
25 
trade, an d  m anufacturing in the country and it shall cover the following:
26 
a. legal u n its of m easurem ent;
27 
b. national m easurem ent standards;
28 
c. hierarchy of m easurem ent stan d ard s and m etrological traceability;
29 
d. national 
legal 
metrology 
regulations 
for 
m easurem ents 
an d
30 
m easuring instrum ents;
31 
e. legal m etrological controls;
12


f. certification system ; and
g. accreditation system .
3 
Section 13. 
R e g istra tio n  o f R eg u lated  M easuring In s tru m e n ts . -
4 
The S tate shall require the registration of all m easuring in stru m en ts used in
5 
trade, health, safety, law enforcem ent and environm ent protection w ith the
6 
N ational R egulators and Local G overnm ent Units.
7 
Those 
m easuring 
in stru m en ts 
u sed  
as 
w orking 
m easurem ent
8 
stan d a rd s by the N ational R egulators, Local G overnm ent U nits, and Board-
9 
authorized entities in the im plem entation of legal m etrological controls, shall
10 
be registered w ith the Board, through the NMB Secretariat.
11 
Section 14. Legal U nits o f M easu rem en t. -  The International System
12 
of U nits (SI) and com binations of those u n its shall be the legal u n its of
13 
m easurem ent m andated to be used in the Philippines including the
14 
following:
15 
a. non-SI u n its accepted for u se w ith the SI (e.g. m inute, hour, day
16 
for tim e, hectare for area, tonne for m ass, bar for pressure,
17 
angstrom  for length, n autical mile for distance, decibel for sound
18 
level); and
19 
b. non-SI u n its allowed by international agreem ent (e.g feet for
20 
altitude navigation an d  m m  Hg for blood pressure).
21 
Section 15. H ierarch y  o f M easu rem en t S ta n d a rd s. -  The NMIPhil
22 
shall m aintain the national m easurem ent stan d ard s for the legal u n its and
23 
provide calibrations a t appropriate levels of accuracy for the calibration
24 
laboratories. N ational R egulators and B oard-authorized public or private
25 
entities to dissem inate the SI u nits. The national m easurem ent stan d ard s
26 
shall in all cases be those assum ed to be the m ost accurate m easurem ent
27 
stan d a rd s of the country.
28 
Private and public calibration laboratories including the DOST
29 
Regional Offices shall, in tu rn  provide low er-accuracy calibrations and
30 
m easurem ents to in d u stries and com m unities using w orking m easurem ent
13


1 
stan d a rd s th a t have been calibrated by the NMIPhil. 
Similarly, National
2 
R egulators, Local G overnm ent U nits an d  entities authorized by the Board,
3 
on the prem ise th a t their working m easurem ent stan d a rd s are of the sam e
4 
accuracy level a s those of the calibration laboratories, shall provide legal
5 
m etrological controls of m easuring in stru m en ts using w orking m easurem ent
6 
sta n d a rd s calibrated by the NMIPhil.
7 
Section 16. M etrological T raceab ility . -  M easurem ents in both the
8 
regulated an d  non-regulated areas shall be traceable to the SI through the
9 
national m easurem ent stan d ard s m aintained by the country’s national
10 
metrology institute to ensure international com patibility and acceptance of
11 
m easurem ent results.
12 
For traceability not provided through the NMIPhil, the S tate shall
13 
recognize m easurem ent stan d ard s of other national m etrology in stitu tes
14 
provided 
they are internationally accepted 
by the 
global metrology
15 
com m unity.
16 
Section 17. Legal M etrological C o n tro ls. -  M easuring instru m en ts
17 
u sed  in trade, health, safety, law enforcem ent an d  environm ent protection
18 
shall be evaluated based on the relevant OIML R ecom m endations a n d /o r
19 
ASEAN G uidelines by the N ational Regulators, Local G overnm ent U nits and
20 
other B oard-authorized entities.
21 
C om pliance to quantity an d  labelling requirem ents of prepackaged
22 
products shall be checked by the N ational R egulators an d  B oard-authorized
23 
public an d  private entities in accordance w ith the ASEAN Common
24 
R equirem ents of Prepackaged Products a n d /o r OIML R ecom m endations.
25 
Section 18. R ig h t o f A ccess. -  The N ational Regulators, Local
26 
G overnm ent U nits and B oard-authorized public or private entities, upon
27 
presentation of their credentials7 shall have the right of access to every
28 
establishm ent 
or 
com m ercial 
prem ise, 
w here regulated 
m easuring
29 
in stru m en ts are, or m ay be installed, kept or used.
14


1 
In the sam e m anner, they shall also have the right of access to eveiy
2 
prem ise or facility w here prepackaged products are m anufactured, or m ay
3 
be filled, packed, labeled, kept or offered for sale.
4 
Any officer or agent of the establishm ents, com m ercial prem ises or
5 
oth er facilities who shall refuse the inspection shall be liable to the penalties
6 
im posed u n d e r Section 25 of th is Act.
7 
Section 19. C e rtific a tio n  S y stem . -  The State shall establish a
8 
certification system  to ensure th a t legal m etrological controls are carried o ut
9 
only by com petent personnel.
10 
Section 20. A c cre d ita tio n  S y stem . -  The State shall m aintain an
11 
accreditation system  to ensure the technical com petence of calibration an d
12 
testing laboratories in the perform ance of their services u n d er the term s of
13 
ISO /IEC  17025 “G eneral R equirem ents for the C om petence of Testing and
14 
C alibration L aboratories.”
15 
The 
Philippine 
A ccreditation 
B ureau 
(PAB), 
a s 
the 
national
16 
accreditation body of the Philippines, shall be responsible to accredit
17 
inspection, 
testing and certifying bodies, 
and other bodies offering
18 
conform ity assessm en t services.
19 
Section 21. 
P ro h ib ite d  A cts. -  The following shall constitute
20 
prohibited acts of any person or juridical person an d  are hereby declared
21 
unlaw ful:
22 
a) to seU, offer, or expose for sale goods or products w ith a quantity
23 
less th an  the quantity represented;
24 
b) to rep resen t the quantity in any m anner or intending to m islead or
25 
in any way deceive an o th er person;
26 
c) failure to register regulated m easuring instrum ents;
27 
d) u se of unregistered regulated m easuring instrum ents;
28 
e) hinder or obstnact any N ational Regulators, Local G overnm ent
29 
U nits and B oard-authorized entities in the perform ance of their
30 
duties;
15


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
1
f) im personate a N ational Regulator, Local G overnm ent U nits and 
B oard-authorized public and private entity;
g) affix fake or u n d u e conform ity m arking or verification m arks;
h) u se of u n its other th a n  the legal u n its of m easurem ent in trade, 
com m ercial transactions, docum entation and advertisem ents for 
products an d  services, publications, or training
i) u se of regulated m easuring in stru m en ts w hich have not been 
subm itted to legal m etrological control;
j) u se of regulated m easuring in stru m en ts w hich have failed the legal 
m etrological control an d  are giving false/w rong m easurem ents;
k) affix false conform ity m arkings or affix conform ity m arkings 
illegally on m easuring instrum ents;
l) falsification of docum ents relative to legal m etrological control;
m) remove or tamp>er any tag, seal, or m ark from any w eight or 
m easure or m easuring in stru m en t w ithout being duly authorized 
by th e proper authority; and
n) m anipulate software a n d /o r hardw are of m easuring in stru m en ts to 
give false m easurem ents.
19 
Section 22. N ational M etrology T rain in g  C en ter. -  A N ational
20 
Metrology Training C enter shall be established and operated by the NMIPhil
21 
to u n d ertak e training on m etrology for the capacity building of calibration
22 
laboratories. N ational R egulators, Local G overnm ent U nits and other Board-
23 
authorized entities responsible for im plem enting legal m etrological controls
24 
in the country.
25
26
27
28 
29
Section 
23. 
Public 
In fo rm atio n /A d v o cacy . -  The NMIPhU, in 
collaboration w ith other concerned governm ent agencies an d  stakeholders, 
shall engage in inform ation cam paigns and advocacy program s to increase 
the public’s aw areness on m etrology an d  instill greater appreciation of 
m etrology by the public.
16


1 
Section 24. E d u c a tio n . -  The NMIPhil, D epartm ent of E ducation,
2 
Com m ission on H igher Education, an d  other concerned governm ent
3 
agencies shall form ulate the design an d  details of a curriculum  on metrology
4 
and its inclusion in all levels of the Philippines’ education system .
5 
Section 25. P e n a ltie s. -  Any person who violates any provision of th is
6 
Act shall be penalized by im prisonm ent of not less th an  six (6) m onths b ut
7 
n o t m ore th a n  five (5) years or fine of not less th a n  fifty th o u san d  pesos
8 
(Php 50,000.00) b u t not m ore th a n  five hun d red  th o u san d  (Php 500,000.00)
9 
or both upon the discretion of the court: Provided, however, th a t if the
10 
violator is a corporation, firm, partn ersh ip  or association, the penalty shall
11 
be im posed upon the president or the m anager or any officer thereof who
12 
know s or ought to have know n the com m ission of the offense.
13 
Section 26. T ra n sito ry  P ro v isio n s. - The transfer of functions, assets,
14 
funds, equipm ent, properties, transactions, an d  personnel of the affected
15 
agency, and the form ulation of the internal organic stru ctu re, staffing
16 
p attern, operating system , and revised budget of NMIPhil, shall be
17 
com pleted w ithin six (6) m onths from the effectivity of th is Act, during such
18 
tim e, the existing personnel shall continue to assum e their posts in holdover
19 
capacities until new appointm ents are issued.
20 
After the transform ation of N ational Metrology Division a s specified in
21 
Section 6 of th is Act, the DOST, in coordination w ith the DBM, shall
22 
determ ine and create new positions.
23 
Section 27. A p p ro p riatio n s. -  The am ount necessary to c a n y  out the
24 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the G eneral A ppropriations Act for
25 
the year following its enactm ent and every year thereafter.
26 
In addition to the GAA, eighty percent (80%) of the fees and charges
27 
collected by the NMIPhil, NMB S ecretariat and the DOST Regional Offices
28 
from m etrology-related w orks including calibration an d  m easurem ent
29 
services, technical trainings, and proficiency testing services shall be
30 
retained an d  correspondingly u sed  by the NMIPhil an d  DOST Regional
17


1 
Offices in t±ie upkeep and m odernization of m easurem ent stan d a rd s and
2 
facilities, p u rch ase of m easurem ent stan d a rd s an d  equipm ent, prom otion of
3 
m etrology culture, aw areness raising program s an d  advocacy cam paigns,
4 
am ong others. The rem aining am ount shall be rem itted to the National
5 
Treasury.
6 
Section 28. Im p lem e n tin g  R ules A nd R eg u latio n s. -  The DOST, in
7 
coordination w ith other concerned governm ent departm ents, agencies an d
8 
representatives m entioned in Section 9 hereof shall w ithin one hund red
9 
eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, issue the necessary
10 
im plem enting rules and regulations of this Act.
11 
Section 29. C o n g ressio n al O v ersig h t C o m m itte e  o n  N ational
12 
M ea su rem en t S y stem . -  The C ongressional O versight C om m ittee on
13 
N ational M easurem ent System  (COCNMS) is hereby created an d  shall be
14 
chaired by the C hairperson of the S enate C om m ittee on Science and
15 
Technology and co-chaired by the C hairperson of the Com m ittee of Science
16 
an d Technology of the H ouse of R epresentatives, w ith (5) m em bers from the
17 
Senate and five (5) m em bers from the H ouse of R epresentatives to be
18 
respectively designated by the President of the Senate an d  the Speaker of
19 
the H ouse of R epresentatives.
20 
The Com m ittee shall, in aid of legislation, perform  th e following
21 
functions, am ong others:
22 
a.) To set the guidelines and overall fram ew ork to m onitor and ensu re
23 
th e proper im plem entation of this Act;
24 
b.) To en su re transparency and require the subm ission of reports from
25 
governm ent agencies concerned on the conduct of program s,
26 
projects an d  policies relating to the Im plem entation of th is Act;
27 
c.) To subm it periodic reports to the President of the Philippines and
28 
C ongress on the im plem entation of the provisions of th is Act;
29 
d.) To determ ine inherent w eaknesses in the law and recom m end
30 
rem edial legislation or executive m easures; and
18


e.) To perform  other duties, functions and responsibilities a s m ay be 
necessary to effectively attain  the objectives of th is Act.
3 
Section 30. S ep arab ility  C lause. -  If for any reason, any provision of
4 
th is Act is declared unconstitutional, the other sections or provisions hereof
5 
w hich are not affected shall continue to be in full force an d  effect.
6 
Section 31. R epealing C lause. -  Republic Act No. 9236 2ind all laws,
7 
decrees, orders, rules and regulations or portions thereof inconsistent w ith
8 
th is Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
9 
Section 32. EfTectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
10 
after its com plete publication in the Official G azette or in a t least two (2)
11 
new spapers of general circulation.
Approved,
19