(front row, from left) COA Commissioner Heidi L. Mendoza, Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman, COA Commissioner Jose A. Fabia and Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III at the Commission on Appointments (CA) on June 11, 2014. (back row, from left) Western Samar 1st District Rep. Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, Isabela 1st District Rep. Rodolfo T. Albano III, Cagayan De Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez, CA Chairman Senator Franklin M. Drilon and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje.

The ad interim appointments of Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioners Heidi L. Mendoza and Jose A. Fabia were confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) on June 11, 2014.

Reflecting the Commission on Audit’s (COA’s) milestone 115^th year theme “COA: Sulong Tungo sa Marangal na Adhikain,” the awardees of this year’s COA Salutes the Best program exemplified integrity and honor. The tribute to the exemplary audit performances, held at the COA Cultural and Sports Complex on May 8, 2014, highlights the week-long celebration of the Commission’s anniversary.

“I am proud and joyful that we have come this far in three years.  Our crop of this year’s COA’s Best is a testament to our collective efforts at integrity, at being “marangal,” observed COA Chairperson Maria Gracia M. Pulido Tan.

 For the first time, the honor program was expanded to include awardees from the regions as well as individual awards categorized into various salary grades.

Chairperson Maria Gracia M. Pulido Tan introduces new COA Commissioner Jose A. Fabia during the COA Salutes the Best program on May 8, 2014.

The 115^th anniversary celebration of the Commission on Audit (COA) ushered in a new Commissioner who stressed the importance of courage, among other values, in government service. Newly-appointed Commissioner Jose A. Fabia was introduced by Chairperson Maria Gracia M. Pulido Tan to the COAns on May 8 during the “COA Salutes the Best” program of the week-long celebration.

The Commission on Audit (COA) welcomed this year’s Women’s Month Celebration with a special tribute on March 3, 2014 for fellow auditors who have died in the line of duty.

The program began with a heart-warming rendition of Fr. Manoling Francisco’s “Likhain Mo" sung by the COA Choir. COA Commissioner Heidi L. Mendoza then recited an original poem in commemoration of our dearly departed COAns:

…Dakila ang mahimlay sa pakikipaglaban

Kaysa manatiling kinikitil ng katiwalian

Sa bala nagtatapos ang akala ng ilan

Ang matuwid na buhay ay magpakailanman!

Commissioner Mendoza, together with Assistant Commissioner Lourdes M. Castillo, COA Gender and Development (GAD) Committee Chairperson, led the ground-breaking of the first-ever COA-GAD marker. “In this never-ending war against corruption, as in any war, there will be casualties and it is but fitting that we put up something to remember them by,” said Assistant Commissioner Arcadio B. Cuenco, Jr.