MANILA, Philippines, November 28, 2013 – The Commission on Audit (COA) celebrated today the first anniversary of its Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA) Project, the Commission’s transparency initiative recently awarded as the "Bright Spot" of the 2013 Open Government Partnership Summit in London.

In her keynote address, COA Chairperson Maria Gracia M. Pulido Tan said, "I have always believed that all of us in government are ultimately accountable to the people we serve. They have the constitutional right to know if their money is being spent properly and judiciously by their public servants. This CPA Project has been designed to do just that – to directly engage citizens in accounting for the effectiveness and efficiency of government projects."

The CPA was launched last November 26, 2012 at the CAMANAVA Flood Control Project Site with Secretary Rogelio Singson of the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific (ANSA-EAP) through the Australian Aid Program. Two more audits were then added as pilot runs for the CPA: Solid Waste Management Program in Quezon City and Barangay Health Services in Marikina City.

"It has been a great first year for the CPA. Our initial mano-mano Citizens’ Desk back in 2011, where the public send reports, complaints and suggestions via text messaging, has blossomed into three pilots for participatory audit with a fourth one underway. We are grateful and privileged to have been working with ANSA-EAP and to be supported by the Australian government. Our recent Bright Spots win in London has shown all of us that our concerted efforts to further government transparency and accountability are on the right direction," said Pulido Tan.

The COA is in the process of finalizing templates and operating manuals for the CPA with the target of institutionalizing it into the COA system. It is also identifying additional projects for inclusion. Disaster aid audit is at the top of their list.

For more information about COA’s CPA Project, please visit www.i-kwenta.com.