The groundbreaking ceremony for the Commission on Audit (COA) Batangas Provincial Satellite Auditing Office (PSAO) was held on 23 April 2019 at the Provincial Sports Complex Compound, Brgy. Bolbok, Batangas City.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo with Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas led the ceremony which was also attended by officials from the COA Central and Regional Offices, Batangas auditors and local government officials.

The COA Batangas PSAO to be erected is a two-storey building with a floor area of 800 square meters that will officially house the auditors of all sectors (corporate, national and local) in Batangas. The usufruct of the 3,000 square meter lot wherein it will be built was awarded by the Provincial Government of Batangas for 50 years, renewable for another 50 years.

Governor Mandanas shared his own experiences in his first job as an auditor. Himself a Certified Public Accountant, Governor Mandanas gave importance to the values of independence, consistency and materiality; that auditors must always be guided by the rules, taking into consideration the principle of cost and benefits.

On the other hand, Chairman Aguinaldo emphasized that interdependence with the auditees is as essential as independence from the same. He stressed that, auditors, being part of the big puzzle, must support and assist government agencies, for them to effectively and efficiently deliver their services to the public. Auditors are no longer watchdogs but enablers of the latter in good governance. He added that the gratuity given by the Provincial Government of Batangas signifies and promotes interdependence.

The blessing of the site officiated by Fr. Gerardo Lipat, simultaneous with the burying of the building’s engineering plans encapsulated in a canister, highlighted the ceremony and formally marked the commencement of the construction. # - with reports from Ms. Patricia Maita B. Dimayuga and Supervising Auditor Elena Luarca