The Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI), through its Pulp and Paper Testing Laboratory (FPPTL), is the sole certifying body accredited by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to ensure the quality of papers to be used for the 2025 midterm elections.
The FPPTL is the only pulp and paper testing laboratory in the country and one of the institute’s testing facilities certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) through the Philippine Accreditation Bureau.
“Our mission at DOST-FPRDI is to support the forest products industry by providing reliable and cutting-edge testing services. The expansion of our services reaffirms our commitment to help local manufacturers compete in both local and global markets,” said FPRDI Director Rico Cabangon.
With these advancements, FPPTL strengthens its role in ensuring the quality and integrity of paper products, not just for the elections but for everyday use, he added.
He also stressed that by setting high standards for testing, consumers are protected from substandard and overpriced paper products.
The laboratory evaluates paper quality based on its opacity and brightness, grammage, thickness, stiffness, tear, and dimension.
Among the paper products tested at FPPTL are multi-copy papers, continuous forms, envelopes, thermal papers, paper seals, vellum papers, newsprints, folders, and specialty papers.
For his part, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr. commended the FPRDI’s advanced testing services that are instrumental in the conduct of national events as important as the elections.
“By ensuring that election materials meet quality standards, we contribute to a smooth and reliable voting process. High-quality paper ensures ballots are durable and easily readable, which minimizes the occurrence of errors,” he said.