The Chamber of Accounts of the Republic of Azerbaijan hosted the 2019 Annual Meeting of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Working Group on Public Debt (WGPD) in 23-25 May. The meeting was attended by fifty three (53) participants from 27 member-SAIs and guest speakers from the World Bank and the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA) University. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was also represented via virtual participation.

All 243 Commission on Audit (COA) Regional Office No. XII officials and employees renewed their commitment to uphold integrity at all times through the recital of the Integrity Pledge, an oath of commitment to ethical practices and good governance as employees of the Commission on 6 June 2019 at Koronadal City.

Officials and personnel of COA Regional Office No. XII take the Integrity Pledge oath before COA Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc on 6 June 2019.

The pledge was administered by COA Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc who emphasized that integrity is how one person lives his life faced with everyday circumstances and chooses the right decision even if such is the harder decision to make.

Salient points of Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and COA Resolution No. 2018-10 dated 1 February 2018 or the Revised Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for COA Officials and Employees were discussed to remind COAns their duties and responsibilities as public servants accountable to the people.

(Above) COA International Audit and Relations Office Director Lito Q. Martin presents the Report of the External Auditor to the Governing Body of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization's Programme and Budget Committee on 14 May 2019.

The Commission on Audit (COA), in its capacity as External Auditor of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), highlighted the importance of a robust framework to ensure a culture of accountability in its Long Form Report presented to the UNIDO Governing Body.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo highlighted the “need for UNIDO to develop a robust Accountability Framework, reflecting the organizational components such as, well-defined staff roles and responsibilities, and the culture of accountability, and transparency in the Organization.”

He also recommended updating of UNIDO’s Internal Control Framework in order to provide clarity of accountabilities on internal control management, among other recommendations.

He further recommended improvement opportunities in the implementation of results-based management, enterprise-risk management, and project management.

The Report was presented to the Governing Body of the UNIDO’s Programme and Budget Committee by COA International Audit and Relations Director Lito Q. Martin during the Committee’s 35th Session in May 2019.

Three Hundred Fifty-three (353) Commission on Audit (COA) officials and personnel of COA Regional Office No. VIII renewed their oath to deliver exemplary government service to the public by participating in the Integrity Pledge ceremony on 30 April 2019 at the COA Multi-Purpose Building, Candahug, Palo, Leyte.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo together with Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc, Assistant Commissioners Wilfredo A. Agito, Joseph B. Anacay and Regional Director Lita A. Estil-Diez led the oathtaking ceremony.

Chairperson Aguinaldo said the COA Integrity Pledge, an activity spearheaded by the Integrity Management Committee as part of COA’s Integrity Management Program, is a reminder for COAns that as public servants we are involved in a higher calling. He stressed the importance of acting or serving with integrity, honesty and high moral principles.

Commissioner Pondoc shared a quote from Amy Reese Anderson in an article on Forbes reminding everyone that “Success will come and go, but integrity is forever. Integrity means doing the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, whether or not anyone is watching. It takes having the courage to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences will be. Building a reputation of integrity takes years, but it takes only a second to lose, so never allow yourself to ever do anything that would damage your integrity.”