Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc encouraged the members of the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants of the Ateneo de Davao University (JPIA- AdDU) to “always do things with passion” as keynote speaker during the JPIA-AdDU’s Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Convocation held on 20 August 2022 at the Bapa Benny Tudtud Amphitheatre, AdDU.

The event was attended by new CPAs, teachers, and student audiences and was entitled REIGNITE: CPA CONVOCATION. This was the first time the event was done physically after years of holding the event virtually.

Commissioner Pondoc reminded the new CPAs that passing the examinations is not the end of their journey and to always do things with passion. He also shared a part of his CPA journey and all the hardships that he encountered and how he got through it. “All throughout my accountancy life until the board exam proper, the only motivation I have in my heart and in my mind is that passing the CPA board exam is my only way of survival,” he recalled.

Commissioner Pondoc also shared advice to the new CPAs on the realities that they are about to face. He shared that the months before his board exam was the toughest for him and that he even solved CPA problems in his dreams. His tips/advice: “First, be yourself and know what you want. Knowing what you want always works to your advantage. Second, possess a teachable heart. Hindi lahat ng tama ay alam mo, at hindi lahat ng alam mo ay tama. Third, don’t compare yourself with others. Everyone has their own role to play. And lastly, never stop learning. I believe the saying that chance favors the prepared mind.”

“I committed mistakes on more than a million questions and failed more than a thousand pieces. I’ve been unsuccessful in more than a hundred trials. In fact, I stumbled over and over again in my life but that is one of the reasons why I succeed,” the Commissioner shared.

COA Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc and former Assistant Commissioner Luzvi Pangan-Chatto were resource persons during the 2nd day of the Government Financial Management Innovators Circle's 13th Annual Convention.

Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc shared his perspectives on the expectations and future plans for Public Financial Management (PFM) initiatives and reforms that may be pursued by the new administration during his keynote address at the 13th Annual Convention of the Government Financial Management Innovators Circle's (GFMIC).,

The annual convention was held online with the theme "Pursuing PFM Excellence: Onto the New Administration” on 10-12 August 2022. Meanwhile, former COA Assistant Commissioner Luzvi Pangan-Chatto, who is also a Trustee and Adviser of GFMIC, was a resource speaker for the 2nd technical session of the convention with the topic, "Revisiting EO 55: Toward an Integrated Financial Management Information System.”

Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc presented COA’s audit case during the audit examples session on "Resilience and Adaptation in Government Sectors" on the first day of the XXI International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions Working Group on Environmental Auditing Assembly in Ukulhas, Maldives.

Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc represented the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of the Philippines during the XXI International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA) Assembly with the theme, "Raising Resilience" held in Ukulhas, Maldives from 4 to 6 July 2022.

The Assembly focused on climate resilience and climate change adaptation in the auditing context as well as important environmental auditing topics such as climate finance, plastic waste, and sustainable transport. It also marked WGEA's 30th anniversary.

Commission on Audit Assistant Commissioner Cora Lea A. Dela Cruz and Mr. Paul Jonel J. Pollicar (9th and 10th from left, front row) of the Professional and Institutional Development Sector join colleagues from participating Supreme Audit Institutions of Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Jamaica, Morocco, South Africa, Uganda, the United States of America (USA), and Zambia, the Department of Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the International Budget Partnership during the first day of the in-person review meeting held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, USA. || (Photo credits: DPIDG/UNDESA)

“Budgets are generally considered to be ’credible’ when governments implement their revenue and spending plans as budgeted. The ability of a government to meet its revenue and expenditure targets during a financial year determines the credibility of the budget approved by the legislature.” - Department of Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the International Budget Partnership

Commission on Audit (COA) officials and personnel attended the review meeting for the development of the handbook on Supreme Audit Institutions’ (SAIs) contribution to strengthening budget credibility through external audits held both virtually and in person at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on 14-17 June 2022.