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Proposal : Amendments To Article X Of The Constitution

Article X of the PSM Constitution establishes the Philippine Academy of Microbiology (PAM) as the accreditation arm of the Society (PSM). The Academy consists of life members of PSM who have distinguished themselves in the field of microbiology in the academe, research institutions and the industry. The criteria for screening of PAM members are rigid. These include at the least, winning national awards in the field of microbiology and publication of peer-reviewed research articles in scientific journals. On the other hand, microbiologists in the industry must have equivalencies of peer-reviewed articles such as formulation of solutions to microbiology problems in the industry that result to increased work efficiency and high quality products.   There are two categories of PAM members – Diplomate and Fellow.

Yearly on the first week end of December, the Academy administers an Accreditation Exam for PSM members. All successful examinees are certified by PAM as Registered Microbiologists (RMicro). This certification is required by the Department of Health (DOH) for microbiologists who are signatories of results of water analysis conducted in laboratories, and by some industries involving microbiology in their activities. Registered Microbiologists are upgraded to Specialist Microbiologists (SMicro) upon completion of advanced degree(s).

PAM is currently preparing for International Accreditation as a certifying body for persons. To be accredited there is a need for PAM to comply with the requirements of ISO 17024, the International Standards for accreditation for persons. For PAM to fulfill the requirement of the first clause of the ISO, there is a need to amendment Article X of the PSM Constitution.

The amendments comprise of the following:

  1. Insertion of Section 2 to Article X that shall declare that PAM, although it is attached to PSM performs its duties as an accreditation body independent of the Society;
  2. Changes in the numbering of the Sections due to insertion of Section 2;
  3. Redefining the duties of PAM in Section 3 to include suspension and withdrawal of certification to Registered Microbiologists and Specialist Microbiologists;
  4. Addition of Section 7 to declare in the Constitution the creation of the Board of Examiners for the Accreditation Exam and that the processes in the conduct of the Exam shall be done with impartiality; and
  5. Addition of provision in Section 8 that the Chair of the Accreditation Board of the Academy shall be a Fellow

All these amendments are underlined in Article X.  These amendments shall be presented and discussed in the Business Meeting of the Society on July 21, 2016 at the 7th Asia Pacific Biotechonology Congress 45th Annual Convention and Scientific Meeting of PSM in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

No other amendments of PSM Constitution are done except in Article X.

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| ARTICLE X – THE PHILIPPINE ACADEMY OF MICROBIOLOGY
Section 1. There should be an academic and accrediting arm of the Society to be called the Philippine Academy of Microbiology (PAM).
Section 2. Its objectives as the accrediting arm are to complement/supplement the activities of the PSM asfollows:To develop and maintain a high standard of practice in the field of microbiology.To formulate rules, regulations and guidelines relative to accreditation, certification and membership to the PAM.To accredit, certify and classify life members of the Society according to the defined standards and qualification requirements which may include written and/or oral examination.
Section 3 Membership to PAM is open only to life members of the PSM. However, acceptance will depend upon the recommendation Accreditation Board. All conferred Diplomates and Fellows will automatically become members of the PAM. Registered and Specialist Microbiologists are candidates for membership and shall be classified as members upon elevation to Diplomate. A PAM member (Diplomate or Fellow) must have attended at least three of five consecutive annual meetings to be in good standing. Attendance to two quarterly meetings shall be equivalent t one annual meeting. A PAM member who fails to meet the requirements for a member to be in good standing shall be recommended for suspension.Membership of a PAM Diplomate or Fellow under suspension may be revalidated after completion of the following:a. submission of an application (including a written request indicating the reason(s) for inactivity ten request indicating the reason(s) for inactivity and payment of an application fee Php 1,000.00. The only excusable absence will be being abroad or sick. Letter of excuse for absence must be submitted not later than one month after the meeting. b. nomination letter from a PAM member in good standing, andc. attendance in three of the five PAM annual meetings after suspension. Attendance in two quarterly meetings will be counted as attendance to one annual meeting. Revalidation of membership may only be allowed once. Second suspension (inactivity for 5 years) would mean permanent disqualification from the Academy.
Section 4 The PAM chair is required to submit a written report of its activities and audited financial statement every year prior to the PSM Annual Convention.
Section 5 The Council of Regents shall run the PAM. It shall be composed of the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Press Relations Officer/Business Manager, the Auditor and five (5) members of the AccreditationBoard.The members of the Council of Regents, including the 5 members of the Accreditation Board, shall be elected by mass members of the PAM for a term of three (3) years on staggered basis so that each year new members of the Council shall be elected to replace the one the one with expired term.
Section 6 The Council of Regents shall appoint five (5) members to constitute the Board of Examiners. In the event of a resignation or physical incapacity of any member, a new examiner/accreditation member shall be appointed.

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Section 1. There should be an academic and accrediting arm of the Society to be called the Philippine Academy of Microbiology (PAM).
Section 2 The Academy remains as an attached body to PSM but maintains Independence in the promulgation of its duties as an accreditation body.
Section 3. Its objectives as the accrediting arm are to complement/supplement the activities of the PSM as follows:

  1. To develop and maintain a high standard of practice in the field of microbiology.
  2. To accredit, certify and classify life members of the Society according to the defined standards and qualification requirements which may include written and/or oral Examination.
  3. To formulate rules, regulations and guidelines relative to member ship to PAM and accreditation, certification and suspension or withdrawal of certification.
Section 4. Membership to the PAM is open only to life members of the PSM. However, acceptance will depend upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Board.
Section 5. The PAM Chair is required to submit a written report of its activities and audited financial statement every year prior to the PSM Annual Convention and Scientific Meeting.
Section 6. A Council of Regents shall run the PAM. It shall be composed of six members – the Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the PRO, and the Auditor. The regularly-elected members of the council shall hold office for a term of three (3) years on a staggered basis so that each year only one new member shall be elected to replace the one with the expired term.
Section 7. The Chair of the Council with the concurrence of the members of the Council shall appoint the Chair and members of the Board of Examiners for a term of three (3) years without prejudice to re-appointment. The members shall appoint among themselves as Secretary. 7.1 The Council of Regents shall promulgate rules on policies, processes, and procedures approved by PAM members to manage impartiality of the accreditation exam certification activities are undertaken with impartiality. These policies and procedures shall be incorporated in the Academy’s Procedural Manual reviewed regularly to cope with the changes in the field of microbiology and global realities.
Section 8.

  • 8.1 An Accreditation Board shall be elected from among the members of the PAM for purposes of accreditation.
  • 8.2 Membership in the Board shall be at a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) as may be deemed necessary.
  • 8.3 The Chair of the Accreditation Board should be a Fellow
  • 8.4 The Board shall evaluate membership applicants to the Academy and accreditation and certification, recertification, expansion, reduction of the scope of certification, and suspending or withdrawing the certification and submit to the Council of Regents for review of the process of assessing their eligibility for acceptance as members of PAM eligibility for accreditation examination and/or certification.
  • 8.5 Members of the Accreditation Board shall be appointed initially by the PAM Chair for 3, 4 and 5 years. Thereafter, each new member shall be elected for a term of three (3) years on a staggered basis so that each year a new member is elected to replace the one with the expired term. The PAM Chair shall appoint from among the members of the Accreditation Board, a Chair and a Secretary who shall each serve for one (1) year.

In the event of a resignation or physical incapacity of any member, a replacement shall be appointed if the vacancy occurs prior to the PAM Annual Meeting.