Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, Commissioner Jose A. Fabia and Assistant Commissioner Luz Loreto-Tolentino lead the groundbreaking ceremony for the Professional Development Center Extension Building

Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo led the groundbreaking ceremony for the Professional Development Center (PDC) Extension Building on February 11, 2016. The PDC Extension Building will have six more classrooms dedicated to holding trainings and seminars.

In his message, Chairperson Aguinaldo said one of the many things he is proud of in COA is the institution’s dedication to continuous training. “The annex building is part of COA’s continuing commitment to provide more training and education for its personnel,” he said.

Commissioner Jose A. Fabia, for his part, said the PDC requires not only good courseware and good trainers but also the facilities to effectively train COA personnel. “Training is very important because it is a vital component for the COA to be able to perform its functions well. The construction of the annex building is a testament to COA’s aspiration for quality audit,” he observed.

Assistant Commissioner Luz Loreto-Tolentino of COA’s Professional and Institutional Development Sector thanked the COA leadership for their support. “The ritual we are about to do is but symbolic but from the depths of this earth that we are marking in a while, a new vision for learning, development and service to our people shall stand,” she remarked.

Chairperson Aguinaldo and Commissioner Fabia unveil the COA Region IV-B marker.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Assistant Commissioners Divinia M. Alagon, Lourdes M. Castillo, Arcadio B. Cuenco, Jr., Alexander B. Juliano, Carmela S. Perez, and Manolo C. Sy and COA Directors.

Meanwhile, COA held the blessing of the renovated offices of COA Region IV-B on February 4, 2016.

Rev. Fr. Mario Bije led the celebration of the Holy Mass and presided over the blessing of the renovated offices. Chairperson Aguinaldo and Commissioner Fabia joined Assistant Commissioner Alagon, and Directors Sheila U. Villa of COA Region IV-B and Janet D. Nacion of COA Region IV-A in unveiling the COA Region IV-B marker. #

Newly appointed COA Commissioner Isabel B. Dasalla-Agito.

Quezon City, January 18, 2016- President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed Certified Public Accountant and lawyer Isabel B. Dasalla-Agito as ad interim Commissioner of the Commission on Audit (COA) for a term expiring on February 2, 2018. Malacañang announced the appointment on Friday, January 15, 2016.

Speaking to COAns after her first flag ceremony as Commissioner, Commissioner Agito said she was happy because her colleagues in COA are also happy. She said she wanted to thank the Lord foremost because it is His will.

“I would also like to thank the Chairperson, Commissioner Fabia, the Assistant Commissioners’ Group, COA officials and everybody who supported and prayed for me. I hope I will be able to live up to everyone’s expectations,” she said. Commissioner Agito added that she sincerely thanks the President for his confidence and trust even though he did not know her.

Commissioner Agito takes over the post left by Heidi L. Mendoza who was appointed by United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services in October last year.

Commissioner Agito is a career official who has been with the COA for more than 39 years. She first joined the Commission as Auditing Examiner in August 1976. She was a member of COA’s UN audit pool having been assigned to audit the UN Headquarters in New York in 1989-1991 and in 2000. She audited various national government agencies and government corporations as well as being Project Coordinator for the COA-UNDP Participatory Audit project. She also supervised the Special Task Force on Flagship Projects. She was named Assistant Commissioner, the highest career rank in COA, in August 2008.

Commissioner Agito obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration- Accounting degree from the University of the East (UE) in 1972 and her Bachelor of Laws degree also from UE in 1993.

Commissioner Agito thanks COAns for their support and prayers after her first flag ceremony as COA Commissioner on January 18, 2016.

COA Chairperson addresses COAns during the Belen lighting ceremony on December 11, 2015.

The Commission on Audit (COA) family looks on the accomplishments of the year with gratitude as it celebrates the 2015 Christmas Season with the theme “COA Family in Thanksgiving.”

COA opened the celebration with the lighting of the Christmas tree and Belen ceremony led by COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo on December 11, 2015. This year’s giant Christmas tree was made from old tires and recycled materials.

A video presentation featuring the Christmas messages of Chairperson Aguinaldo and Commissioners Heidi L. Mendoza and Jose A. Fabia was played over the big screen.

“Christmas is celebrated as coming together of people,” said Chairperson Aguinaldo. The Chairperson observed that Christmas is more than just a religious celebration and is also a coming together of different cultures, noting that many of the traditions celebrated during Christmas came from various cultures which are not limited to a particular religion.

Commissioner Mendoza, for her part, said Christmas “is a pledge that light will overcome darkness.” Commissioner Mendoza encouraged everyone to do their jobs well so that they can be happy after their service in COA knowing that they did their best.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Fabia said that in the spirit of Christmas, COAns should look back at what they have accomplished and must always remember that “we are not only guardians of the public purse but also catalysts for excellent public service.”

The COA Christmas celebration includes a bingo game sponsored by the Philippine Government Audit Service Employees Association, a program for the kids of the COA Day Care Center, a lunch get-together and gift-giving with employees with Salary Grade 1-6 and job-order personnel, and a raffle draw sponsored by the Association of National Government Sector Auditors, Inc. # – Dennis Cariño

State Auditor Daisy O. Bercede (second from left) with fellow Dangal ng Bayan awardees poses with President Benigno S. Aquino III at the awards rite held in Malacañan Palace. (photo source: https://www.gov.ph/2015/11/09/outstanding-public-servants-recognized-malacanan/)

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) recognized State Auditor Maria Daisy O. Bercede of the Commission on Audit (COA) Regional Office No. 7, Cebu City among the country’s outstanding public servants. The CSC conferred on her the Dangal ng Bayan Award for ethical public service. She was one of eight recipients of the award.

The Dangal ng Bayan Award is conferred to an individual for performing extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of the employee’s observation of the eight norms of conduct provided under Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

COA nominated Auditor Bercede to the CSC honor awards after being named the Most Outstanding Woman of COA in 2014. She was recognized for leading the audit investigation of Talisay City College (TCC) uncovering unreceipted collection of at least P10 million. The investigation resulted in the recommendation by the TCC Board of Directors to remove the accountable official.

When she won as Outstanding COAn, Auditor Bercede said the award inspired her to continue doing well. “The award is only a bonus. It is my duty to perform my job to the best of my ability. I work hard not because I wish to win awards but because I enjoy what I do and believe that doing all I can is right,” she said.

Auditor Bercede joined Menia S. Alvidera of the Department of Education Division of Roxas City, Vivencio B. Claros of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Trixie M. Dagame of the Bureau of Fire Protection Regional Office No. 8, Roy A. Esteron of the National Food Authority Quirino Provincial Office, Juvy S. Gaton of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 6, Jo Anne D. Haber of the Office of the President, and Mario V. Navasero of the University of the Philippines, Los Baños in the roster of Dangal ng Bayan awardees.

Meanwhile, the President conferred the Presidential Lingkod ng Bayan Award to 11 individuals for exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony. The CSC conferred the Pagasa Award to nine individuals and two groups for outstanding contribution resulting from an idea or performance which directly benefit more than one department of the government.

The awards rite for the 2015 Outstanding Public Officials and Employees was held on November 9, 2015 at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall, Malacañan Palace.