MANILA, Oct. 28 (PNA)— The acronym “RP” will no longer be used by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) when referring to the Philippines, and will be replaced by “PH” or “PHL” in consonance with codes of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The long standing usage of the initials “RP” is not in accordance with ISO codes, and are ambiguous initials that can also refer to other countries, the DFA said.
DFA Secretary Alberto G. Romulo has directed the DFA’s 67 embassies, 23 consulates-general and four Permanent Missions to use the new initials PH or PHL in a Department Order dated Oct. 20.
In making the shift, the DFA said that the move “is in line with the Philippine membership with the ISO as well as in avoiding the ambiguity and confusion with the use of the initials “RP,” which stands for the “Republic of the Philippines.”
In fact, the DFA’s Office of Consular Affairs has already adopted and reflected the ISO three-letter code in the data pages of the Philippine electronic passport.
In the business sector, the initials PH and PHL are also used in airline ticketing, passports, currencies, and internationally-traded shares of stocks, among others.
The Philippines is represented in the organization by the Bureau of Product Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry.
DFA said that the adoption of the new ISO initials provide technological, economic and societal benefits.
For governments, International Standards provides the technological and scientific bases underpinning health, safety and environmental legislation.
For businesses, the widespread adoption of ISO means that suppliers can develop and offer products and services meeting specifications that have wide international acceptance in their sectors.
ISO is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations.
Founded on Feb. 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary industrial and commercial standards.
