The Commission on Audit (COA) was recognized for its exceptional and significant contributions to the progress of the FOI program during the first FOI Awards Ceremony held recently at the Rizal Park Hotel, Manila.

The Presidential Communications Operations Office spearheaded the awards to recognize the significant contributions of government agencies to the development and progress of the FOI program. COA was one of the awardees for agencies outside the executive branch.

“The Commission is committed to ensuring accountability for public resources and promoting transparency through mechanisms that allow us to engage and empower the public by providing them with access to official records involving public interest. We are both honored and inspired to have received recognition for our transparency efforts,” said COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo.

Aside from COA Circular No. 2013-006 which is the main COA issuance that operationalizes the people's constitutional right to information, other programs that provide the public with access to information are:

• COA Citizen’s Desk- a Helpdesk that uses a support ticket system in which the public may report allegations of fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement of public funds and direct their queries including requests for official documents. Aside from filling in necessary information through the website, the public may also text their concerns/queries (Text line: +63917 320 6543) or email at [email protected].
• COA Legal Information Archive - serves as the digital repository of COA issuances, resolutions, decisions, and other key legislations and jurisprudence affecting the Commission, accountability for public funds, and auditing and accounting regulations.
• COA website – The Commission’s various official reports as well as Circulars, manuals, accounting and auditing issuances may be directly downloaded without need of written requests.
• Hotline 8888 – COA has acted upon auditing and other related concerns/complaints endorsed to the Commission by the Office of the President as well as by the Civil Service Commission.

COA Assistant Commissioner for the Government Accountancy Sector Lourdes M. Castillo together with Director Carmelita T. Sanchez of Claims and Adjudication Office - Corporate Government of the COA Commission Proper Adjudication and Secretariat Support Services Sector received the award on behalf of the Commission.

In his message for the FOI awards ceremony, President Duterte said, "We have made great strides in providing access to relevant records, research data, documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, and decisions in the executive branch."