The Commission on Audit (COA) was recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for its invaluable support in the advancement of SEC’s strategic initiatives during the 88^th SEC Anniversary Celebration and Appreciation Night held on 10 December 2024 at the SecECenter, The SEC Headquarters in Makati City.

With the theme: "Reach for the STARS: Shining Through Achievements, Reinvention, and Sustainability," the SEC honored esteemed individuals and agencies from both the public and private sectors who have supported them in the pursuit of its mandates in 2024. The SEC gave awards for contribution to ease of doing business, capital market development, investor education and protection, sustainability and corporate governance, and organizational development.

The move to modernize state audit has taken a big step forward as the bill to update the 46-year old Presidential Decree No. 1445 or the “Government Auditing Code of the Philippines” is set to reach the Senate Plenary for debate in January 2025.

Prior to the submission of the revised SB No. 2746 to the Senate Plenary in January 2025, two Inter-Agency Technical Working Group (IA-TWG) meetings presided by Atty. Philip Jurado were conducted on 25 and 27 November 2024. Public hearings were also conducted on August 27, 2024 and September 4, 2024 prior to the IA-TWG meetings. Issues raised during the public hearings were addressed by the Commission on Audit (COA) sectors and offices concerned, consolidated by the COA TWG Secretariat and submitted to the COA Assistant Commissioners’ Group and the Commission Proper for consideration.

The Commission on Audit (COA) held its Senior Executive Development Program (SEDP) graduation ceremony for 20 COA executives who had successfully completed the SEDP, including defense of their policy papers. The simple graduation ceremony was held at the COA Sports and Cultural Center on 17 December 2024.

The SEDP aims to constantly develop competent and competitive leaders. By virtue of COA Resolution No. 2002-009, the program is mandated to ensure the continuing development and formation of COA’s senior executives to provide competent supervision and leadership thereby ensuring honest and faithful service to the Commission.

Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba (center) with the delegation from the Royal Government of Cambodia led by HE Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs of Cambodia, who visited COA to gain insights on auditing GAD Funds  

Manila, Philippines – The Commission on Audit (COA) shared its experiences in the audit of Gender and Development (GAD) Funds with a high-level delegation from the Royal Government of Cambodia as part of a comprehensive study visit focusing on Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) and women's leadership initiatives on 8 October 2024 at the COA Central Office in Quezon City.

The study visit was organized by the United Nations Development Programme with the objective of enhancing the capacity of Cambodian policymakers and technical practitioners in promoting gender-responsive budgeting and women’s leadership. The study visit gave valuable insights into the Philippines’ national experience in implementing GRB which has become a key tool for promoting gender equality through public finance.

COA Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba welcomed around 32 delegates from Cambodia led by Her Excellency Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs of Cambodia.