Commission on Audit

COA Commissioner Jose A. Fabia leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new Provincial Satellite Audit Office in Tarlac City on 6 March 2018. With him are COA Regional Office No. III Director Lynn SF. Sicangco, Congressman Victor A. Yap, Governor Susan A. Yap, Vice Governor Carlito David and Mayor Maria Cristina C. Angeles.
COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the land donation that will be the site of the new Provincial Satellite Audit Office in Batangas City on 15 January 2018. Joining Chairperson Aguinaldo are Provincial Administrator Librado G. Dimaunahan, Legal Officer Atty. Cesar L. Castor, Sr. and COA Regional Office No. IV-A Director Mario G. Lipana.
COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo (far right) joins De La Salle University (DLSU) Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance Director Francisco A. Magno, World Bank Communications Officer Justine Espina-Letargo, Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, and Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles in the panel that presented the 2017 Open Budget Survey results held at the DLSU on 13 February 2018. The Open Budget Survey results showed how the Philippines fared in budget transparency, participation and oversight in comparison with other countries.
Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang join the participants to the Training on Effective Investigation and Prosecution for the Commission on Audit and Office of the Ombudsman Joint Investigation Team held in Pampanga from 30 May to 2 June 2017. The training was sponsored by the USAID.
Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and Taytay Rizal Mayor George Ricardo R. Gacula II sign the Memorandum of Agreement for the construction of the PSAO building on 20 June 2017. Joining them are Assistant Commissioner Rizalina Q. Mutia, Director Mario Lipana, and Atty. Stanlee Calma.
Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo receives former COA Commissioner Sofronio B. Ursal’s donation of seven volumes of good governance reference collection on 9 May 2017. The collection includes books on government auditing, local government taxation, barangay financial administration and revenue collection. Also in picture are Assistant Commissioners Alexander B. Juliano, Winnie Rose H. Encallado and Rizalina Q. Mutia, Director Carmelita O. Antasuda and Auditor Rosa Dela Cruz.
Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and officials of the Commission welcome delegates from the Supreme Audit Institution of Vietnam and World Bank Hanoi on a study visit to the Philippines on 3 March2017. The participants discussed issues on environment audit.
COA officials conduct teleconferencing on Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) Performance Management Framework (PMF) with representatives of the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) on 9 March 2017.
Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo was the keynote speaker and inducting officer at the Institute of Internal Auditors of the Philippines General Assembly on 15 February 2017. Chairperson Aguinaldo talked about the role of internal auditors in strengthening integrity and governance.

Former COA Chief Francisco S. Tantuico passes away

Details: Published: 06 October 2017

Former Commission on Audit (COA) Chairman Francisco S. Tantuico, Jr. passed away in the evening of 5 October 2017. He was 87 years old.

Chairman Tantuico was the second Chairman of the audit body when it became a Constitutional Commission under the 1973 Constitution. He held the Commission’s helm from 1975 to 1986. Under his leadership, the Commission underwent comprehensive and far-reaching reforms such as the adoption of comprehensive audit which expanded auditing services to include financial and performance audits; revision of accounting and auditing rules and procedures; and professionalization of the auditing service and organizational restructuring of the Commission. He was also instrumental in the promulgation and issuance of PD 1445 or the General Auditing Code of the Philippines.

Chairman Tantuico established linkages with world audit bodies, paving the way for the Commission’s current respected status in the international audit community. He was a prime mover in the creation of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) in 1979 to improve public audit performance of governments in Asia through training, research and education. He was the first Secretary General of the ASOSAI. Chairman Tantuico was also elected member of the United Nations Board of Auditors in 1984.

Philippine Commission on Audit hosts meet of international audit body on public debt

Details: Published: 28 September 2017

Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and Commissioner Jose A. Fabia join delegates to the annual meet of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions Working Group on Public Debt (WGPD). Chairperson Aguinaldo currently chairs the WGPD.

The Philippine Commission on Audit (COA) is hosting their counterparts from the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Working Group on Public Debt (WGPD) for its annual meeting from 27 to 29 September 2017 held in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.

The WGPD is a specialized body of the INTOSAI tasked to prepare and publish guidelines and other materials for use by Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) to encourage the proper reporting and sound management of public debt, identify key issues for development of responsibilities and procedures for auditing and evaluating debt commitments and exchange knowledge with other institutions dealing with public debt issues, among its many goals.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, who currently Chairs the WGPD, and Commissioner Jose A. Fabia join around 40 delegates from member SAIs - Austria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Fiji, Georgia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, United States of America, Zambia and the Philippines. Representatives from the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI), the World Bank and senior experts also participate in the meet. Deputy Treasurer of the Philippines Atty. Erwin D. Sta. Ana was the keynote speaker.

“Public borrowing can be an effective tool for governments to finance its development initiatives so long as the risks are managed properly. As officials of Supreme Audit Institutions, we play a significant role in helping our respective governments manage public debt to sustainable levels,” Chairperson Aguinaldo said.

This is the first time that the COA chairs the WGPD after SAI of Mexico has chaired the international body for 25 years. This will also be the first time the Philippines hosts a meeting of the WGPD.

The agenda includes the launching of the IDI-Handbook on Audit of Lending and Borrowing Frameworks, updating of database of experts in public debt auditing and WGPD projects and activities as well as sharing of best practices from public debt auditing in their respective countries.

INTOSAI established the WGPD in response to strong interest in public debt matters shown by members during the 1989 INTOSAI Congress. INTOSAI is an autonomous, independent and non-political organization that operates as an umbrella organization for the external government audit community. It has special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

No need for official receipts for expenses amounting to P300- COA

Details: Published: 05 July 2017

As a result of the declining purchasing power of the Philippine peso and due to the rising cost of consumer products and services, the Commission on Audit (COA) recently released COA Circular No. 2017-001 stating that official receipts are no longer needed as supporting documents for expenses amounting to P300 or less that are incurred by government officials and employees while in the performance of their official functions.

The new Circular aims to simplify the reimbursement of expenses that do not require official receipts. However, government officials and employees are still required to submit a certification for expenses P300 or less as supporting document in order for the reimbursement to be processed.

On the other hand, for payment of fares in public utility vehicles (PUVs) issuing receipts such as bus, train, vessel/ship; and purchases in business establishments issuing receipts, official receipts are still needed to facilitate the reimbursement of expenses even if the amount is P300 or less.

The new Circular was signed by the Commission Proper on 19 June 2017 and will take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in a newspaper of general circulation. The Circular was published in the Philippine Star and BusinessWorld on 28 June 2017. - By Dennis Cariño

To view COA Circular No. 2017-001 dated June 19, 2017, click here