The Commission on Audit (COA) and the City Government of Calamba, Laguna entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on 26 September 2018 to officially start the construction of a COA Provincial Satellite Auditing Office (PSAO) in Laguna which is to be considered a symbol of COA’s independence and interdependence.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and Calamba City Mayor Justin Marc SB. Chipeco signed the MOA for the usufruct of parcel of land intended for the COA PSAO in Laguna. The signing was witnessed by Regional Director Mario G. Lipana of COA Regional Office No. IV-A and Calamba City Administrator Allan D. Zacarias.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and Calamba City Mayor Justin Marc SB. Chipeco show off the signed Memorandum of Agreement for the piece of land intended for the Provincial Satellite Auditing Office in Calamba. The signing was witnessed by COA Regional Director Mario G. Lipana and Calamba City Administrator Allan D. Zacarias. Also in picture are Calamba Vice Mayor Roseller H. Rizal and City Councilor Moises E. Morales.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) recognized State Auditor Romel C. Espiña of the Commission on Audit (COA) Regional Office No. XIII, Butuan City among the country’s outstanding public servants. The CSC conferred on Auditor Espiña the Dangal ng Bayan Award for exemplary conduct and ethical behavior. He was among ten recipients of the award.

Auditor Espiña was cited for “steadfastly upholding honesty, integrity, competence, and patriotism in the performance of his functions. His strong commitment in pursuing the Commission on Audit’s fight against graft and corruption resulted in the suspension of government officials and recovery of public funds amounting to millions of pesos in the municipalities placed under his watch.”

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 observance of the eight norms of behavior provided under Republic Act No. 6713 or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.”

In last year’s COA Salutes the Best program, the Commission conferred on Auditor Espiña the Gawad Kagitingan for his demonstration of unusual courage and bravery in the discharge of audit work. Auditor Espiña faced the challenges of going to his place of assignment located at distant island municipalities, often experiencing perilous trips because of bad weather.

Dangal ng Bayan recipient State Auditor Romel C. Espiña of COA Regional Office No. XIII with Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, Commissioners Jose A. Fabia and Isabel D. Agito (ret.) and Regional Director Usmin P. Diamel in last year’s COA Salutes the Best program where he was conferred the Gawad Kagitingan award.

Homepage of the newly launched IARO website

The Commission on Audit’s (COA) International Audit and Relations Office (IARO) launched its own website to make the Commission’s various stakeholders see and understand its work in the international arena on 12 September 2018 at the SAADO Auditorium.

COA’s IARO integrates the coordination and supervision of the multi-faceted work involving international audit and relations. The IARO exercises control over the audit of international organizations where the COA is the External Auditor as well as coordinates the proper observance of the Commission’s commitments as member of the international audit community.

10 September 2018 marked another meaningful event for officials and personnel of Commission on Audit (COA) Regional Office No. III as they took their Integrity Pledge at the Heroes’ Hall, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

COA Commissioners Jose A. Fabia and Roland C. Pondoc administered the oath taking. All officials and employees of COA Region III signed the Integrity Pledge which will be placed in their 201 files.

Commissioner Fabia imparted words of wisdom and inspiration to auditors assigned in the operations on how to practice integrity and display values in dealing with the auditees while Commissioner Pondoc introduced the Integrity Pledge to COAns and defined integrity and its advantages.

COA Region III Director Lynn S.F. Sicangco and Assistant Director Elenita DV. Lumongsod lead regional personnel in taking the Integrity Pledge administered by COA Commissioners Jose A. Fabia and Roland C. Pondoc on 10 September 2018.