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.”

“A house is made of walls and beams, a home is made of hopes and dreams.”

To maintain the independence that fosters integrity among its ranks, the Commission on Audit planned for the total withdrawal of auditors residing within auditee-agency's roofs by building Provincial Satellite Auditing Offices (PSAO) nationwide.

The PSAO for the Province of Eastern Samar located at the Capitol Site in Borongan City was recently inaugurated with COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc leading the ceremony which included the unveiling of the PSAO marker and the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc with Eastern Samar Governor Marcelo Ferdinand A. Picardal lead the inauguration of the Provincial Satellite Auditing Office in Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

Chairperson Aguinaldo highlighted the building as a symbol of independence and the Commission's initiative to detach residency from client agencies but emphasized that this does not sever COA's partnership with the local government in nation building. Consequently, the Chairperson reiterated his principle that auditors are partners and enablers of government in perfoming their mandates better.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and Assistant Commissioners Wilfredo A. Agito and Joseph B. Anacay led the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the inauguration of the new Provincial Satellite Auditing Office (PSAO) in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on 25 April 2019.

Meanwhile, the groundbreaking ceremony for the PSAO in Siquijor was held on 26 April 2019 at the Provincial Capitol Area. The PSAO buildings will be the new home of the different local, national, and corporate audit teams assigned in Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo with Assistant Commissioners Wilfredo A. Agito and Joseph B. Anacay lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the inauguration of the new Provincial Satellite Auditing Office in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. Joining them are COA Regional Satellite Audit Office - Negros Island and Siquijor Director Atty. Chito C. Janaban, Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo and Province of Negros Oriental Governor Roel R. Degamo.

Chairperson Aguinaldo emphasized that the PSAO is symbolic of COA’s independence. He stressed the importance of the Commission’s partnership with other agencies, being a part of the entire government machinery with each agency playing their respective roles to deliver the best public service. “The ultimate role of our Philippine government is the promotion of the general welfare of all citizens and inhabitants of the country, to which COA’s role is merely part,” said the Chairperson, as he quoted the notable lines of former Commissioner Sofronio B. Ursal.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Commission on Audit (COA) Batangas Provincial Satellite Auditing Office (PSAO) was held on 23 April 2019 at the Provincial Sports Complex Compound, Brgy. Bolbok, Batangas City.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo with Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas led the ceremony which was also attended by officials from the COA Central and Regional Offices, Batangas auditors and local government officials.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo leads the groundbreaking ceremony for the Provincial Satellite Auditing Office in Batangas. With him are Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas and COA Region IV-A Director Mario G. Lipana and Assistant Director Maria Oliva V. Ortega.

The COA Batangas PSAO to be erected is a two-storey building with a floor area of 800 square meters that will officially house the auditors of all sectors (corporate, national and local) in Batangas. The usufruct of the 3,000 square meter lot wherein it will be built was awarded by the Provincial Government of Batangas for 50 years, renewable for another 50 years.

Governor Mandanas shared his own experiences in his first job as an auditor. Himself a Certified Public Accountant, Governor Mandanas gave importance to the values of independence, consistency and materiality; that auditors must always be guided by the rules, taking into consideration the principle of cost and benefits.