MANILA, Philippines -- Government offices and agencies are now required to use PH or PHL when referring to the Philippines.
President Benigno Aquino III has issued Administrative Order no. 5 that ordered all government bodies, agencies and other instrumentalities of the government "to adopt and use, as practicable,'' the letter codes assigned to the country by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The Philippines is a member of ISO.
In the AO signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., last month, it said these codes were used in international events and conferences, sports meets, airline ticketing, among others here and abroad.
It said the Department of Foreign Affairs has already adopted and reflected the ISO codes, particularly PHL in the data page of the electronic passport.
"The use of initials RP in referring to the Philippines is not in accordance with the ISO…leading to ambiguity and confusion," the AO said, noting that to avoid this, the ISO codes should be followed instead.
