COA Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc joins the faculty and students of the University of Southeastern Philippines College of Business Administration during the turnover ceremony of donated Accountancy Books.

“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

The University of Southeastern Philippines College of Business Administration (USeP CBA) in Davao City expressed its heartful gratitude and appreciation to Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc for his generosity and continued support during the turnover ceremony of Accounting books the Commissioner donated to USeP CBA on 22 August 2022. The gratitude message was posted on the College’s Facebook page on the same day and garnered 74 likes as of the time of writing this article.

"As early as now, you must learn the concept of paying it forward. Learn to share what you have, as I have with these books, for a better Philippines and a better world," Commissioner Pondoc said in his donor's message.

COA Commissioner Pondoc fulfilled his commitment to donate books and other study materials, recalling the difficulties and challenges of having no books during his first year of college. Commissioner Pondoc encouraged the students, expressing hope that they will also do the same and help those in need.

Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc encouraged the members of the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants of the Ateneo de Davao University (JPIA- AdDU) to “always do things with passion” as keynote speaker during the JPIA-AdDU’s Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Convocation held on 20 August 2022 at the Bapa Benny Tudtud Amphitheatre, AdDU.

The event was attended by new CPAs, teachers, and student audiences and was entitled REIGNITE: CPA CONVOCATION. This was the first time the event was done physically after years of holding the event virtually.

Commissioner Pondoc reminded the new CPAs that passing the examinations is not the end of their journey and to always do things with passion. He also shared a part of his CPA journey and all the hardships that he encountered and how he got through it. “All throughout my accountancy life until the board exam proper, the only motivation I have in my heart and in my mind is that passing the CPA board exam is my only way of survival,” he recalled.

Commissioner Pondoc also shared advice to the new CPAs on the realities that they are about to face. He shared that the months before his board exam was the toughest for him and that he even solved CPA problems in his dreams. His tips/advice: “First, be yourself and know what you want. Knowing what you want always works to your advantage. Second, possess a teachable heart. Hindi lahat ng tama ay alam mo, at hindi lahat ng alam mo ay tama. Third, don’t compare yourself with others. Everyone has their own role to play. And lastly, never stop learning. I believe the saying that chance favors the prepared mind.”

“I committed mistakes on more than a million questions and failed more than a thousand pieces. I’ve been unsuccessful in more than a hundred trials. In fact, I stumbled over and over again in my life but that is one of the reasons why I succeed,” the Commissioner shared.

COA Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc and former Assistant Commissioner Luzvi Pangan-Chatto were resource persons during the 2nd day of the Government Financial Management Innovators Circle's 13th Annual Convention.

Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc shared his perspectives on the expectations and future plans for Public Financial Management (PFM) initiatives and reforms that may be pursued by the new administration during his keynote address at the 13th Annual Convention of the Government Financial Management Innovators Circle's (GFMIC).,

The annual convention was held online with the theme "Pursuing PFM Excellence: Onto the New Administration” on 10-12 August 2022. Meanwhile, former COA Assistant Commissioner Luzvi Pangan-Chatto, who is also a Trustee and Adviser of GFMIC, was a resource speaker for the 2nd technical session of the convention with the topic, "Revisiting EO 55: Toward an Integrated Financial Management Information System.”

Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc presented COA’s audit case during the audit examples session on "Resilience and Adaptation in Government Sectors" on the first day of the XXI International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions Working Group on Environmental Auditing Assembly in Ukulhas, Maldives.

Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc represented the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of the Philippines during the XXI International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA) Assembly with the theme, "Raising Resilience" held in Ukulhas, Maldives from 4 to 6 July 2022.

The Assembly focused on climate resilience and climate change adaptation in the auditing context as well as important environmental auditing topics such as climate finance, plastic waste, and sustainable transport. It also marked WGEA's 30th anniversary.