The Commission on Audit (COA) Regional Office No. VI spearheaded the contract signing and groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of the Provincial Satellite Auditing Office (PSAO) in Guimaras on 26 June 2019. COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and Guimaras Governor Samuel T. Gumarin led the ceremony. Vice-Governor Atty. John Edward G. Gando, local officials of the Province and COA Regional Director Chona P. Labrague, with the supervising auditors, service chiefs, auditors of COA Regional Office No. VI, and representatives from the COA Central Office were also around to witness the event.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo with Guimaras Governor Samuel T. Gumarin, Vice-Governor John Edward G. Gando, and COA Regional Director Chona P. Labrague lead the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Provincial Satellite Auditing Office in Guimaras.

Chairperson Aguinaldo acknowledged the generosity of the Province of Guimaras, emphasizing that the construction of the PSAO symbolizes COA’s independence but recognizing that the support of the Province of Guimaras shows interdependence among the different offices of government. He also pointed out that COA should not only be a watchdog but also a guardian angel ready to assist and educate its auditees.

The Chamber of Accounts of the Republic of Azerbaijan hosted the 2019 Annual Meeting of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Working Group on Public Debt (WGPD) in 23-25 May. The meeting was attended by fifty three (53) participants from 27 member-SAIs and guest speakers from the World Bank and the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA) University. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was also represented via virtual participation.

All 243 Commission on Audit (COA) Regional Office No. XII officials and employees renewed their commitment to uphold integrity at all times through the recital of the Integrity Pledge, an oath of commitment to ethical practices and good governance as employees of the Commission on 6 June 2019 at Koronadal City.

Officials and personnel of COA Regional Office No. XII take the Integrity Pledge oath before COA Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc on 6 June 2019.

The pledge was administered by COA Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc who emphasized that integrity is how one person lives his life faced with everyday circumstances and chooses the right decision even if such is the harder decision to make.

Salient points of Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and COA Resolution No. 2018-10 dated 1 February 2018 or the Revised Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for COA Officials and Employees were discussed to remind COAns their duties and responsibilities as public servants accountable to the people.

(Above) COA International Audit and Relations Office Director Lito Q. Martin presents the Report of the External Auditor to the Governing Body of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization's Programme and Budget Committee on 14 May 2019.

The Commission on Audit (COA), in its capacity as External Auditor of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), highlighted the importance of a robust framework to ensure a culture of accountability in its Long Form Report presented to the UNIDO Governing Body.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo highlighted the “need for UNIDO to develop a robust Accountability Framework, reflecting the organizational components such as, well-defined staff roles and responsibilities, and the culture of accountability, and transparency in the Organization.”

He also recommended updating of UNIDO’s Internal Control Framework in order to provide clarity of accountabilities on internal control management, among other recommendations.

He further recommended improvement opportunities in the implementation of results-based management, enterprise-risk management, and project management.

The Report was presented to the Governing Body of the UNIDO’s Programme and Budget Committee by COA International Audit and Relations Director Lito Q. Martin during the Committee’s 35th Session in May 2019.