Commission on Audit (COA) employees – Ms. Eyren M. Yulde of Cluster 3, Corporate Government Sector and Mr. Benito R. Ong of the Information Technology Office, Systems and Technical Services Sector – have been awarded the Dangal ng Bayan Award (Regional Level) by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) – National Capital Region (NCR). The virtual awarding ceremony was held at the Commission Proper Board Room on 10 December 2020.

The Dangal ng Bayan award is conferred to an individual for performance of an extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of his/her observance of the eight norms of behavior provided under Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.”

Ms. Yulde was recognized for her audit efforts which contribute significantly to the achievement of the Commission’s constitutional mandate to safeguard government funds and properties. Meanwhile, Mr. Ong has been notable in leveraging the use of Information Technology (IT) in enhancing the Commission’s services which eventually resulted to savings.

“I congratulate Ms. Yulde and Mr. Ong for being recognized as outstanding public employees in the regional level by the CSC. Their efforts showed a great sense of accountability and public service. I hope they become inspirations for every COAn and public servant to excel in the performance of their duties with utmost honesty and integrity,” COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo said.

Mr. Yulde and Mr. Ong have also been shortlisted in Dangal ng Bayan Award in the National Level.

Joining Chairperson Aguinaldo in the awarding ceremony were Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc, CSC Director Dick N. Chavez, Assistant Commissioner Luzvi Pangan Chatto, Directors Marie Macel O. Tejada, Lourdes T. Cardenas, and Lydia F. De Joya.

The Commission on Audit (COA) inaugurated its new Provincial Satellite Auditing Office (PSAO) Building in Brgy. Guinlajon, Sorsogon City on 27 November 2020. Sorsogon Provincial Governor Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region V Director Virgilio C. Eduarte COA Assistant Commissioner Roland A. Rey, and COA Region V Director Joel S. Estolatan, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony and unveiling of the marker. The blessing of the PSAO building by Rev. Fr. Cyben Laurence S. Vitug of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Seminary, Sorsogon City followed. COA Region V officials and auditors from the province of Sorsogon graced the event.

COA Assistant Commissioner Roland A. Rey and Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Provincial Satellite Auditing Office in Sorsogon. Assisting them are COA Region V Director Joel S. Estolatan and DPWH Region V Director Virgilio C. Eduarte

The construction of PSAOs throughout the country is a priority program of the Commission to provide auditors in the field, especially in the provinces, a home base. The COA PSAO Building in Sorsogon was conceptualized in 2018 and made possible thru the concerted efforts of Governor Chiz Escudero and the DPWH as implementing agency.

Due to travel restrictions brought by the pandemic, COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc were not able to grace the occasion but they made sure that their well wishes were relayed through their video messages.

The Commission on Audit (COA) joins in the government’s observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) from 25 November to 12 December. The start of the campaign coincides with the International Day to Eliminate VAW while 12 December coincides with the International Human Rights Day.

Led by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the advocacy campaign aims to promote awareness on the forms of violence women and children experience; provide information on laws protecting women and children; feature VAW-related services; strengthen the prevention and response system on VAW; and gather public support for the campaign.

This year's advocacy campaign to End VAW comes with the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic that affected the marginalized and vulnerable sectors. According to the PCW, the pandemic highlighted the challenge of the functionality of Barangay VAW Desks as the first line of response for victims of VAW. Therefore, this year's advocacy campaign focuses on the role and essence of the Barangay, as part of a VAW-free community, in accordance with this year's theme, "VAW-free community starts with ME."

COA programs that support the campaign against VAW include the Women Help Desk (WHD) established in the Commission’s Central and Regional Offices and the creation of the Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE) Chapter in the Commission.

One of the Commission on Audit’s (COA) international partners in its performance audit initiatives, the United States Government Accountability Office (US GAO) Center for Audit Excellence (CAE), marked its five-year anniversary on 30 September 2020. Since its establishment, the CAE has made significant contributions in improving audit capacity and promoting good governance in the US and in the international audit community.

The US GAO-CAE and COA, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is working together on the Philippine Performance Audit Partnership (PPAP) Project through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the three parties. Under the agreement, the US GAO-CAE will provide technical assistance to COA to further institutionalize its performance audit capacity in evaluating high-value government programs to ensure that they are efficient, economical and achieve their objectives.

A Year 1 Work Plan for the PPAP project was already developed and the US GAO CAE team conducted a Basic Performance Audit Course attended by 27 participants from the different audit sectors and COA Offices in 2019.

“We congratulate the US GAO Center for Audit Excellence on its fifth anniversary, recognizing the Center’s valuable assistance in helping us create more positive audit impact through our performance audit initiatives. We hope that our partnership with CAE strengthens the momentum towards sustainability and institutionalization of performance auditing in the Commission,” said COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo.

Aside from Supreme Audit Institutions, the US GAO-CAE provides tailored training classes and technical assistance to accountability organizations such as federal Inspectors General and state and local auditors. The CAE is under the US GAO’s Strategic Planning and External Liaison Office. The Center is led by Janet St. Laurent (Director) and John Hutton (Deputy Director).

“The Center for Audit Excellence is a resource for the global audit community. It is achieving what I envisioned five years ago. I am pleased with its progress and ability to adapt to the needs of Supreme Audit Institutions and domestic audit organizations, as well as the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said Gene L. Dodaro, US Comptroller General and Head of the US GAO in an article on the CAE’s five year anniversary published in the INTOSAI Journal. (https://intosaijournal.org/gao-center-for-audit-excellence-marks-five-year-anniversary/)