MANILA¬—President Benigno Aquino ordered all government agencies to use PH and PHL instead of RP in referring to the Philippines.

Aquino issued Administrative Order No. 5 on December 9 directing all government agencies and offices to start using PH or PHL, the codes assigned to the Philippines by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Last month, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa signed an administrative order on the use of the acronyms in international events, airline ticketing and similar functions of the Philippine government in foreign countries.

“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.

“Such ambiguity and confusion when referring to the Philippines by the use of initials can be avoided by following the codes assigned to the Philippines by ISO,” the order read.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has already adopted the ISO codes, particularly PHL, in the data page of the electronic passport.