Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc administered the Integrity Pledge to 361 personnel of the COA Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) led by Regional Director Atty. Eden T. Rafanan at the COA-CAR Regional Office Multi-Purpose Building on 10 December 2019.

In line with COA’s Intensified Management Program on Integrity, the Integrity Pledge seeks to strengthen and highlight COA-CAR’s commitment and dedication to public service. This also serves as a reminder that COAns should conduct themselves with the highest degree of honesty and integrity without any sense of entitlement as public servants.

Commissioner Pondoc quoted a Forbes article by Amy Anderson saying that “success will come and go, but integrity is forever. Integrity means doing the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, whether or not anyone is watching. It takes having the courage to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences will be. Building a reputation of integrity takes years, but it takes only a second to lose, so never allow yourself to ever do anything that would damage your integrity.”

As the Commission Proper always reminds COAns: “As public servants, we are held to a higher standard. We must not only work hard and try to do good in our work, but also to exert efforts in order to serve with integrity.”

Commissioner Pondoc also discouraged his audience from doing business with untrustworthy groups or individuals while encouraging them to pursue maintaining the culture of integrity within the Commission and among COA Employees. Also discussed during the program were the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for Public Officials and Employees, the Revised Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for COA Officials and Employees, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and other laws pertaining to good governance.