Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo addresses COA officials during the second day of the Strategic Performance Management System workshop.

The Commission on Audit (COA) held a briefing and workshop on the Strategic Performance Management System (SPMS), a new performance review system that seeks to link individual performance with organizational goals.

Around 190 COA officials and personnel participated in the workshop held in the SAADO Auditorium from September 9 to 11, 2015.

The COA SPMS is developed to comply with the civil service requirement directing all agencies to establish a new Performance Evaluation and Appraisal System that reflects how employee performance has contributed or hindered organizational effectiveness.

Aside from increasing awareness on the SPMS, the workshop also aimed to foster discussions on the steps and procedures to be undertaken during the various stages of SPMS cycle and prepare focal persons in cascading the SPMS in their respective regions/offices.

Chairman Michael G. Aguinaldo pushed for a system that will encourage each individual employee to meet his or her own targets instead of promoting unhealthy competition against fellow office workers.

Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo shakes hands with Northern Samar Governor Jose L. Ong after the signing of a deed of donation for a parcel of land in Barangay Dalakit, Catarman which is the proposed site for a Provincial Satellite Audit Office..

Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo lauded personnel of COA Regional Office No. VIII for having one hundred percent accomplishment rate in Annual Audit Reports for 2014 despite constraints in physical and other support facilities resulting from destruction by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The original regional office had six buildings but after Typhoon Yolanda struck the province, only two remained and only one has been refurbished. COA auditors there hold office in what used to be their canteen.

“Despite all the challenges, despite the fact that you have to work in a single building, despite the fact that some of you are working without computers or laptops because they were part of those that were damaged, you were still able to come out with your reports on time,” Chairperson Aguinaldo said.

“If people in that area who have suffered a lot were still able to do their jobs, then it tells that there is no reason for others not to be able to do their jobs as well,” he added.

Chairperson Aguinaldo and Commissioners Heidi L. Mendoza, and Jose A. Fabia recently visited COA Regional Office VIII, Candahug, Palo, Leyte to hold a Commission Proper (CP) meeting and dialogue with regional personnel.

Speaking for the first time to office personnel in Leyte, Chairperson Aguinaldo affectionately addressed everyone as “kapamilya” and “kapuso” and updated them on the strategic plan for the next seven years. Chairperson Aguinaldo said he expects auditors not only to recommend measures on the efficient use of public funds but also to educate agency personnel on the correct use of public funds.

Commissioner Mendoza encouraged auditors to look forward to the good things happening in COA instead of focusing on the negative aspect like lack of manpower. She advised auditors “na ingatan at iwasto ang paggamit ng kapangyarihan.” She likewise spoke about the sincerity of the new Chairman and went further by saying, “mabait si Chairman, dapat mas mabait kayo.”

Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Heidi L. Mendoza assured the public that no current member of the Commission Proper (CP) was involved in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

“I can with confidence say that whoever that Commissioner who Atty. Baligod claims to be included in the PDAF scam, he is no longer with the current member of the Commissioner Proper,” Commissioner Mendoza said.

Commissioner Mendoza pointed out that the current members of the CP were recently appointed and could not have been involved in the pork barrel scam from the period 2007-2009. Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo was appointed in March 2015, Commissioner Jose A. Fabia in May 2014 and she herself in April 2011.

In response to earlier allegations that four auditors were involved in the PDAF scam, Commissioner Mendoza said the COA is open to any investigation against its auditors but the proper information and evidence should be shown owing to the sensitive nature of COA’s work and in fairness to the other 8, 237 employees of the Commission..

“Gusto po natin ibigay ng assurance ang publiko na patuloy na makakaasa sa buong tapat at buong pusong paglilingkod ng buong COA,” Commissioner Mendoza emphasized.

COA is currently undergoing fact-finding investigation against 70 or more auditors on the PDAF while three administrative cases have already been filed.

The Philippine Government Audit Service Employees Association (PhilGASEA), the Commission on Audit’s employees association, held its national election last August 12, 2015. The COA Alliance for Reform and Empowerment (CARE) party won almost all the National Executive Council positions and eight seats in the Board of Directors (BOD).

CARE standard bearer Atty. Haide T. Espuelas of the Fraud Audit Office (FAO) won over Mario L. Ortega and Alejandro P. Gementera, both from the Administration Sector. Meanwhile, Technical Services Office’s (TSO) Engineer Laurence T. Tato topped the BOD.

Here is the complete list of winners: President – Haide T. Espuelas, FAO; Vice President – Edgardo Lamberto L. Ramos, Jr., Office of the Chairperson; Secretary – Maria Careen R. Recio, Public Information Office; Treasurer – Jocelyn S. Nokom, FAO; Auditor – George S. Tamayo, Jr., FAO; PRO – Sharon C. Contarciego, Professional and Institutional Development Sector.

The new BOD is composed of Engr. Laurence T. Tato, TSO; Ms. Mary Grace G. Serenio, Local Government Sector; Ms. Jazmin C. Macabangon, Human Resource Management Office; Atty. Richard M. Fulleros, Legal Services Sector (LSS); Atty. Reynaldo C. Darang, Corporate Government Sector (CGS); Atty. Fabian K. Delos Santos, CGS; Atty. Jeremy H. Gariando, LSS; Dr. Karlo A. Cayetano, Medical and Dental Services Office; Atty. Rochelle C. Lancanan, FAO; Ms. Rachel M. Abendanio, General Services Office.

The new officers and board of directors of the Philippine Government Audit Service Employees Association (PhilGASEA) with members of the Committee on Elections shortly after the official results have been released.