Officials and personnel of the Commission on Audit (COA) Regional Offices No. IV-A and IV-B committed to Integrity as a way of life during the Integrity Pledge ceremony held at the COA Cultural and Sports Complex.

COA Commissioners Jose A. Fabia and Roland C. Pondoc administered the oath taking to 423 officials and personnel of COA Region IV-A led by Regional Director Mario G. Lipana and Assistant Regional Director Maria Oliva V. Ortega on 1 March 2019.

Meanwhile, 277 COA Region IV-B personnel led by Regional Director Ma. Corazon S. Gomez and Assistant Regional Director Lynflor M. Adolfo, five employees from COA Region IV-A, and one from the Professional and Institutional Development Sector took their Integrity oath before Commissioner Pondoc on 26 March 2019.

Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc administers the Integrity Pledge to COA Region IV-B officials and personnel on 26 March 2019.

The Integrity Pledge is part of the activities implemented by the COA Integrity Management Committee under the COA Intensified Management Program on Integrity which aims to build a culture of integrity in the Commission, rooted in the strict adherence to established laws and regulations. The signed Integrity Pledge will form part of the 201 files of the participants.

Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo received the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) during its 51st commencement exercise held on 27 March 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

The conferment was for his exemplary and unwavering work in promoting good governance and observance of the rule of law in public service. The resolution was signed by Dr. Benjamin I. Espiritu, Chairman of the Board of Regents and Dr. Ma. Leonora V. de Jesus, Vice Chairman of Board of Regents and University President, attested by Atty. Rufino V. Abuda, Acting University and Board Secretary.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo is conferred the degree Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, by Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Chairman of the Board of Regents Dr. Benjamin I. Espiritu and University President Dr. Ma. Leonora V. De Jesus.

Thanking PLM and its officials, Chairperson Aguinaldo said that he is truly honored and humbled to accept the honorary doctoral degree. “I hope to continue to live up to your expectations and whatever criteria you may have used to grant me this honor,” he said.

Chairperson Aguinaldo reminded the graduates to carry the core values of the PLM as a tool in facing the real world. “As iskolars ng bayan, you also have the social responsibility to contribute to the betterment of our country,” he said.

Chairperson Aguinaldo also talked about the importance of living a life of integrity and honesty in work and in one’s life. He encouraged everyone to serve with integrity whether in public service or in the private sector. 

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) conferred on the Commission on Audit (COA) the Maturity Level II under the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM) recently.

The Certificate of Recognition recognizes COA’s efforts in pursuing excellence by intensifying its structures and methods in the field of Human Resource Management (HRM) particularly on four HRM systems: recruitment, selection, and placement; learning and development; performance management; and rewards and recognition.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo (center) shows the certificate of recognition affirming COA’s Maturity Level II under the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management. With him are Commissioners Jose A. Fabia and Roland C. Pondoc, CSC Director Dick N. Echavez, COA Assistant Commissioners, and officials and employees of the Professional and Institutional Development and Planning, Finance and Management Sectors and the Human Resource Management Office.

The program seeks to empower government agencies by developing their human resource management competencies, systems, and practices toward HR excellence.

The Commission on Audit (COA) renewed its commitment to women empowerment as the focus of the theme for the national celebration of Women’s Month: We Make Change Work for Women to highlight empowered women not only as active contributors but also claimholders of gender and development (GAD).

The Philippine Commission on Women identified this theme for the celebration of National Women’s Month until 2022.

“Women are empowered when they become part of the decision-making process. In the Commission, more than 5,000 women or around 62% occupy second level positions. More than their actual positions, however, women and men have equal opportunities to take control not only in the work environment but also in their personal lives through our various programs to improve work and family life balance, physical fitness and emotional well-being,” observed Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo.

The Chairperson also emphasized the auditor’s role in making change work for women by ensuring that GAD funds are properly spent and that GAD programs implemented by government reach their objectives.

COA officials, athletes and personnel sing the national anthem during the opening ceremony of the celebration of National Women’s Month on 26 February 2019.

Commissioner Jose A. Fabia noted that 85% of all of the awardees in last year’s COA Salutes the Best program were all women, a testament that COA’s GAD programs have been effective in empowering women.