The Commission on Audit held its 28th Senior Executive Development Program (SEDP) graduation ceremony for 49 COA senior executives coming from different batches/classes who had successfully defended their policy papers from 2017 to August 2019. Attended by the COA officials and families of the candidates for SEDP graduation, the simple ceremony was held at the COA Professional Development Center Auditorium on 29 August 2019.

Members of the Commission Proper (CP) headed by Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, together with Commissioners Jose A. Fabia and Roland C. Pondoc, graced the event to congratulate and give their inspirational messages to the graduates. The members of the CP said the wealth of ideas that could be harnessed from the pool of policy papers will be very useful for COA as it can be used to craft new policies and kick-start further studies.

Chairperson Aguinaldo thanked and congratulated the graduates. He said, "Part of the graduates' pledge is to be a change agent as you have seen areas that really needs change. Rest assured that your proposed policy papers will be acted on sooner or later."

Commissioner Jose A. Fabia echoed the Chairperson on the importance of the policy papers crafted by the graduates. "These policy papers you have produced may become policies of the Commission and may make COA as an institution stronger. When done right, it will also strengthen the different organs of the government," Commissioner Fabia said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Roland A. Pondoc inspired the graduates with a parable from the Bible about using talents wisely. He said, "You have equipped yourselves with new skills by going through the SEDP. I hope that you will all continue to be fruitful, faithful at all things, both from work and your personal lives."

Composed of 37 State Auditor IV, four State Auditor V, three Attorney VI, two Chief Technical Audit Supervisors, and one Attorney V, Chief Administrative Officer, and Information and Technology Officer III, this year’s candidates for graduation were presented to Professional and Institutional Development Sector Assistant Commissioner Luz Loreto-Tolentino by Professional Development Office Director Melanie R. Añonuevo. AsCom Tolentino certified the candidates for graduation and was subsequently confirmed by Chairperson Aguinaldo.

The SEDP aims to constantly develop competent and competitive leaders. By virtue of COA Resolution No. 2002-009, the program is mandated to ensure the continuing development and formation of COA’s senior executives to provide competent supervision and leadership thereby ensuring honest and faithful service to the Commission.

The SEDP is not just a training program for executives in the Commission, but also a system of recruitment, selection, and promotion for executives to positions with salary grades (SG) 24 and above.

From your COA family, congratulations to the 2019 SEDP graduates! ##