Published: 21 July 2023
The Commission on Audit (COA) is the gold standard in gender and development (GAD) efforts among government agencies having been officially declared as a Double Gold Awardee of the Gender and Development Transformation & Institutionalization through Mainstreaming of Programs, Agenda, Linkages & Advocacies (GADtimpala) 2023 to be conferred by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).
COA is recognized with the GADTimpala Gold Award for Outstanding Gender-Responsive Agency for its outstanding performance in gender mainstreaming and the effective implementation of gender-responsive programs. This means that COA has reached Level 5-Replication and Innovation, as assessed by the PCW using the Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF) Organizational Assessment Tool. At this level, the agency must have fully mainstreamed GAD into its mandate and be recognized by other agencies as a model in gender mainstreaming. It means that it has enhanced its four Entry Points on Policies; People; Enabling Mechanisms; and Programs, Activities and Projects (PAPs) based on the results of the GMEF Organizational Assessment Tool.
Meanwhile, the Commission’s GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) will receive the GADTimpala Gold Award for exemplary GFPS (GADTimpala AlaGAD) for its significant contribution as catalyst for gender mainstreaming. This award highlights the dedication and commitment of COA GFPS in promoting gender equality and women empowerment in the organization and the sector. According to the PCW MC No. 2022-06, this award is conferred to exemplary GFPS that have contributed significantly to the agency’s gender mainstreaming efforts from 2019 to 2022 and if the agency has garnered a total weighted score of 91-100. The selection was based on the agency’s PCW-validated scores on the GMEF Organizational Assessment Tool and the GAD Focal Point System Functionality Assessment Tool (GFPS-FAT) for national government agencies (NGAS).
COA will receive the prestigious awards at the GADtimpala awarding ceremonies on 14 August 2023 at the Samsung Hall, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City during the celebration of the 14th Anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta of Women.
“This award is the result of the collaborative efforts of the members of the COA GAD Focal Point System in the Central and Regional Offices, as well as the support of all the COA personnel in the implementation of the GAD PAPs of the Commission. I am especially grateful for the guidance and full support of the COA Commission Proper, as well as the foundation, direction and wisdom provided by former Assistant Commissioner Lourdes M. Castillo who blazed the trail in embracing GAD in COA,” observed Assistant Commissioner Fortunata M. Rubico, Chair of the COA GFPS Technical Working Group.
COA has levelled up its GAD initiatives and enhanced the discharge of its mandate to conduct audit of GAD Funds and activities in accordance with prescribed audit guidelines. In 2022, COA issued COA Memorandum No. 2022-004 dated 28 January 2022 adopting the GAD Audit Guide which is a step-by-step guide of Audit Teams in conducting audits that contribute to gender equality and promote greater gender responsiveness in government PAPs. The guide serves as basis in developing the corresponding courseware on the audit of GAD funds and activities. These are in fulfillment of the Commission’s commitments under the Magna Carta of Women and the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Plan 2019-2025. The Commission also issued COA Memorandum No. 2022-018 on 15 August 2022 making the seminar on the audit of GAD Funds and gender sensitivity trainings mandatory for all COA personnel.
In 2021, the Commission enhanced the GAD Plan, Budget, and Accomplishment Information System (GPBAIS) which is a system developed and used exclusively by the Commission to facilitate the preparation, review, consolidation and submission of the annual COA GAD Plan and Budget, and Accomplishment Report. In 2022, COA completed the development of the GAD Knowledgebase which is a system equipped with information and answers to frequently asked questions about GAD and allows users to create tickets via the Helpdesk feature.
To further strengthen the Commission’s campaign to help eradicate violence against women and children, the COA Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) Central Office and Regional Offices Chapter reorganized in 2022. They convened and elected new set of national officials in 2023. There are other notable COA GAD PAPs that continue to contribute to the deepening of gender mainstreaming efforts of the Commission, i.e. Day Care Operations, lactation room, health and wellness program, sports and physical fitness program, Women Help Desk and Legal Assistance Program, COA GAD Website Maintenance, annual observance of the National Women’s Month and the International Women’s Day, 18-Day Campaign on Violence Against Women, strategic partnerships and linkages with other government agencies, maintenance of GAD office, and information and educational materials, among others. #