The Commission on Audit’s (COA) Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA) strategy was selected first place for the Asia Pacific Region by the Open Government Partnership (OGP) for its 2021 OGP Impact Awards. The recognition was announced at the Opening Plenary of the OGP Global Summit held from 15 to 17 December 2021.

The OGP Impact Awards “highlight commitments that have demonstrably improved people’s lives or the quality of democracy” and was launched by the OGP, along with the OGP Local Innovation Awards, as part of its 10th anniversary celebration to recognize the work of open government reformers in improving transparency, accountability, participatory nature, and impact of open government work.

Launched in November 2012, the CPA strategy aims to enhance citizen participation in the public audit process. It is a mechanism of constructive engagement between citizens and government in conducting public audits and capacity building activities, to uphold the people’s primordial right to a clean government and the prudent utilization of public resources. The CPA is founded on the premise that public accountability can prosper only with a vigilant and involved citizenry.

“We would like our people, especially the younger generation, to be involved in the work of governance. Citizens are included in the audit team to make government more effective, transparent, and accountable. After all, democracy is not only for the people, it is also by the people,” said COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo.

“We pledge to engage more civil society organizations as we vow to continue to cultivate this journey towards a constructive partnership among citizens and government auditors for a more transparent, resilient, accountable and open government because this is the heart of CPA,” he added.

Since 2012, CPA engagements included the multi-billion peso KAMANAVA Flood Control Project which involved 13 flood control structures meant to mitigate flooding in Northern Metro Manila, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Funds and the Local Government Units’ performance in their response to natural calamities and man-made disasters, Farm-to-Market Roads where compliance with specifications and the selection of locations were validated through a geotagging tool, and the Solid Waste Management Program where the implementation of proper waste segregation and disposal was validated, including the level of satisfaction of residents on the overall cleanliness of their communities. COA has institutionalized the CPA through COA Resolution No. 2018–006 dated 1 February 2018.

Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo was honored with the 2021 Distinguished Public Service Award from the Government Financial Management Innovators Circle (GFMIC), Inc. on 18 November 2021 as part of its Annual Membership Conference held on 18-19 November 2021 via Zoom platform.

GFMIC is an organization of government financial management professionals who utilize information and communications technology as a tool for productivity, transparency, and accountability.

GFMIC bestowed the prestigious award to Chairperson Aguinaldo in recognition of his remarkable achievements and notable service in the Commission and contribution to enhancing transparency and accountability in public service. Chairperson Aguinaldo spearheaded the implementation of a comprehensive, dynamic, and innovative seven-year strategic plan improving government audit, adjudication, and investigatory functions, government accounting, administration, and support to operations and engagement of stakeholders.

GFMIC acknowledged the Chairperson's exemplary leadership and expertise in governance and implementation of notable projects, which included the full implementation of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards and applicable Philippine Financial Reporting Standards, with far-reaching effects on the promotion of efficient, effective and transparent government operations. Chairperson Aguinaldo was also recognized by the international audit community, having been elected as the External Auditor of the International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization as well as Chairperson of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions Working Group on Public Debt, Governing Board Member of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions and Chairperson of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Supreme Audit Institutions Training Committee.

The Commission on Audit (COA), the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of the Philippines, recently assumed the Vice Chairmanship of the ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions (ASEANSAI) for the term 2021-2023 during the 6th ASEANSAI Summit held virtually on 2 November 2021, hosted by the Office of the Auditor General of the Union of Myanmar. SAI Philippines also retains its Chairmanship of the ASEANSAI Training Committee (TC) for biennium 2022-2023, with the SAIs of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand as members.

Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, together with Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc, led the Philippine delegation that also included Assistant Commissioner Cora Lea A. Dela Cruz of the Professional and Institutional Development Sector. The nine Auditors-General of the ASEANSAI, the Head of ASEANSAI Secretariat from SAI Indonesia, representatives from development partners and technical support staff from respective SAIs were also present during the Summit.

In his acceptance speech as the Vice Chairperson of the ASEANSAI, Chairperson Aguinaldo said that “the new ASEANSAI Strategic Goals of Fostering capacity development, Intensifying knowledge sharing, Strengthening cooperation and Improving internal governance exist because we believe that these are going to bring our organization to a new frontier, but I must also underline that as we progress, we must ensure that no one is left behind.  For me, this is the spirit of cooperation and international understanding that further potentiates our mission.”

In COA’s capacity as the incoming Vice Chair, Chairperson Aguinaldo also presented the Consolidated ASEANSAI Committees’ Work Plans for 2022-2023, the activities and main deliverables of which are tied up with a specific strategic goal in the organization’s Strategic Plan for 2022 – 2025.