The Commission on Audit (COA) recognized COA officials and employees for their outstanding audit performance as well as excellent work ethic and loyalty at the annual Salutes the Best program on 5 May 2022 as one of the highlights of the 123rd COA anniversary celebration.

The audit team composed of Auditors Marilou P. Sumcad, Famela L. Manibog, and Jessy James B. Briones of COA Regional Office No. VI was awarded the Gawad Kahusayan for outstanding performance. The Audit team took the initiative in overseeing the extent of implementation of the DAO No. 2004-24 dated 24 August 2004 which provides for policies and guidelines in the management of foreshore areas under the jurisdiction of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Office (PENRO), Capiz and in the enforcement of its provisions for the collection of rental/occupancy fees from the occupants who operate businesses at the coastal areas of Roxas City and three municipalities in the Province of Capiz. The team emphasized the uncollected annual rental fees aggregating to P35.774 million in estimated uncollected rental fees from CY 2013 to CY 2019 and later resulted to total collections amounting to ₽21,709,720.15 for CY 2021 alone which is way above the average annual collections. The breakthrough in the financial operations of PENRO-Capiz has paved the way towards a more aggressive campaign launched by the agency in order to generate sufficient income to sustain future developments of foreshore areas to benefit future generations without being solely dependent upon the support of the national government.

The Gawad Karangalan Level II was conferred on Mr. Gerald M. Mendeja of the Information Technology Office, Administration Sector. Mr. Mendeja spearheaded the development of various information and application systems in support to the operation of the different offices in the Commission, including the COA Project Reporting of Infrastructure Schedule Monitoring System (PRISM) which is an application designed for monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of different government infrastructure projects through different platforms such as web and mobile. PRISM was the entry of the Commission to the Hackathon BPK Competition held by the Audit Board of Indonesia with the theme “Hack for Accountability and Transparency.” Mr. Mendeja led the COA team which won first place at the professional level of the said competition.

Newly appointed Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Rizalina N. Justol, who is the second woman appointed as COA Chairperson after Ma. Gracia M. Pulido Tan, assumed her first day in office as the Commission opened the celebration of National Women’s Month.

Chairperson Justol was greeted warmly by COA officials and staff led by Commissioners Roland C. Pondoc and Mario G. Lipana. “I am glad to be back at COA, an institution that I have served for ten years as an auditing examiner,” Chairperson Justol remarked. She chose March 1 as the date of her assumption as Chairperson, it being a symbolic date, as it was when she left the Commission in 1996.

Newly appointed Commission on Audit Chairperson Rizalina N. Justol (seated, center) joins Commissioners Roland C. Pondoc and Mario G. Lipana and COA Assistant Commissioners during an informal meeting on her first day in office

Earlier in the day, COA formally joined the nation in celebration of National Women’s Month with the culmination of the 2017-2022 theme: “WE Make Change Work for Women.” The theme highlights women empowerment and women as active change agents and beneficiaries of development.

More than 900 COA officials and staff from the Central and Regional Offices participated in the virtual opening program which included a dialogue with the Commission Proper. The Commission’s celebration of Women’s Month is highlighted by the nationwide conduct of four sessions of training on the audit of Gender and Development (GAD) Funds which will use the new GAD Audit Guide. Developed by the Committee on Audit and Gender Issue Analysis of the COA GAD Focal Point System (GFPS), the GAD Audit Guide provides a step-by-step guide for audit teams in the conduct of audit that contributes to gender equality and promote greater gender-responsiveness in government programs and projects.

“Since the creation and institutionalization of COA’s GAD Focal Point in 2001 to spearhead gender mainstreaming efforts, the Commission had implemented various organization and client-focused initiatives to advance GAD advocacies. I am not surprised that COA has reached Level 4- Commitment, Enhancement and Institutionalization-under the Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and was recognized with the GADtimpala Bronze Award in 2018. With the PCW, I am confident that we will reach the highest level of gender mainstreaming. Rest assured that I will give my wholehearted cooperation and endorsement of all our GAD efforts,” Chairperson Justol said.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”- A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh)

The Commission on Audit's (COA) beloved Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo ended his term as COA Chairperson on 02 February 2022, after seven years of extraordinary leadership and exceptional public service.

Chair Mike, as he is fondly called, led COA towards new frontiers and high level of effectiveness in the performance of its mandates. His work ethic and passion for excellence propelled him to greatness and a high level of respect that will be forever etched in the hearts of COAns. What makes Chair Mike most endearing to all COA officials and employees alike, is his kind-hearted nature that makes coming and working in COA an everyday pleasure.

The entire Commission expressed their most profound appreciation and gratitude, sweet farewells, and best wishes for Chairperson Aguinaldo in a simple virtual program held on 26 January 2022.