Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc was recognized for his exemplary leadership as an officer of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) during PICPA’s recently concluded virtual Appreciation and Graduation Ceremony on 29 June 2021.

Commissioner Pondoc received the Presidential Leadership Award, Outstanding Senior Regional Director award, and Outstanding Chair of Geographical Area Office (Mindanao) award. He was also given the Certificate of Perfect Attendance for attending all of the Regular Monthly National Board of Directors Meeting for FY 2020-2021.

Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo talked about the Commission’s mandate, programs and projects to ensure transparency and accountability in government as guest of the Presidential Communications Operations Office’s (PCOO) television program “F.Y.I.” hosted by PCOO Undersecretary Atty. Kristian R. Ablan. The interview was taped via Zoom and aired on IBC-13 on 4 July 2021 at 8:30 p.m. The episode was also livestreamed on the F.Y.I. Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FYIPHOfficial).

Putting emphasis on the Commission’s role not only as watchdog of public coffers but also as enablers of government agencies to help them perform their mandates better, Chairperson Aguinaldo said “Ang COA ay isa sa mga ahensya na may mandato to ensure transparency and accountability sa mga ginagawa ng gobyerno. Gusto namin na makita ng mamamayan na may nagbabantay din sa mga buwis at nagagamit ng tama. Hindi po kami kalaban o kaaway ng mga nasa gobyerno. Hindi lang po kami tagahanap ng mali, anomalya o katiwalian. Nakikita namin ang aming mga sarili bilang partners in nation building.”

“Itong pandemya ay malaki ang epekto sa atin. Of course, we want to ensure accountability but at the same time ayaw po naming maging hadlang sa mga relief efforts kaya marami po kaming inisyu na mga opinions, mga Circulars to address these lalo na sa mga initiatives ng DSWD at GPPB to make things simpler especially a year ago to make sure people get the support they needed from government gaya ng SAP at mga donations but at the same time maintaining that government officials still have to be accountable,” he observed.

The International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Working Group on Public Debt (WGPD), led by the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of the Philippines, and the World Bank teamed up to successfully organize a series of events as part of the ”Debt Management Auditors Week” from 14 to 18 June 2021. The objective of the events is to enhance outreach to auditors and strengthen debt management.

The first event was a five-day virtual training on Regional Debt Management Performance Assessment (DeMPA) Workshop for Debt Managers and External Auditors. The training was designed to provide an understanding of the rationale, scope, coverage, and application of the revised DeMPA methodology to debt management practitioners and external auditors. WGPD member-SAIs Brazil, Egypt, North Macedonia, and Bhutan participated in the training.