The Commission on Audit (COA) has recently formalized its intent to be the next external auditor of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNCESCO), with the mandate commencing on 2024. The six-year audit mandate that COA seeks will provide the best opportunity for the Commission to contribute its expertise built from the over thirty-nine years of experience auditing the United Nations agencies to an organization that is currently undergoing strategic transformation. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, UNESCO carries the mandate that promotes world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.

Chairperson Cordoba and First President Moscovici during their bilateral meeting at Cour des Comptes headquarters in Paris, France

With its constitution adopted in London in 1945 that came into force in 1946, UNESCO is now present in 193 countries providing support to establishment of global centers of scientific research, spearheading literacy campaigns and protecting the best that humanity has to offer. Interestingly, UNESCO has declared several heritage sites in the Philippines that include the City of Vigan, Miag-ao Church, Tubataha Reef, San Agustin Church and Rice Terraces of Cordilleras, among others. Lately, the Province of Bohol was declared by the agency as one of the 18 new global Geoparks citing its geological identity that has been pieced together over 150 million years, as periods of tectonic turbulence have raised the island from the ocean depths.

Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc is the new Executive Vice President of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. He joined National President Atty. Randy B. Blanza along with the new PICPA officers and Board of Directors at the turn-over and induction ceremony held at the Edsa Shangri-la in Mandaluyong City on 14 June 2023.

Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy Chairman Noe G. Quiñanola served as the inducting officer.

The other key officers of PICPA are Ms. Sonia D. Segovia, Vice President (VP) for Operations; Mr. Manuel V. Mapoy, VP for Government; Dr. Edwin M. Delos Santos, Jr., VP for Education; Ms. Geraldine H. Apostol, VP for Public Practice; Mr. Dexter F. Ortega, OIC-VP for Commerce & Industry, Mr. Antonio G. Camalla, Secretary and Ms. Katerine U. Sobremonte, Treasurer.

"Unbeknownst to some, auditing is not limited to money matters. There is such a thing as environmental audit. And with the worsening challenges affecting the environment, now more than ever, environmental audit must be given focus."- COA Commissioner Roland Café Pondoc

With the worsening challenges affecting the environment, Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Roland Café Pondoc emphasized the need to focus on environmental audit. In an article recently published by the Manila Bulletin entitled “Environmental audit, a must more than ever” under its PICPA Talks column, Commissioner Pondoc said that COA is actively involved in environmental audits by utilizing globally accepted processes and strategies as a member of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI)-Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA).

Formed in 1992 during the Rio Earth Summit on sustainable development, INTOSAI WGEA aims to use audit mandates and methods in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development. It provides Supreme Audit Institutions with guidance and research on accountable, rule-based, and efficient governance and highlights innovative approaches promoting participation and transparency such as the Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA).