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.

GAD Logo and Slogan Contest Successfully Conducted

Details: Published: 29 May 2017

To further raise the level of awareness and maximum participation of all officials and employees of the Commission in the implementation of its projects, programs and activities, the COA Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point (GFP) System launched the “GAD Logo and Slogan Contest.”

The contests mechanics was released through COA Memorandum No. 2016-022 dated 7 November 2016. A total of 13 entries were received with two entries standing out over the rest. The slogan “Gender Equality Mainstreaming Towards Nation Building” crafted by Ms. Aemee Marie Concepcion G. Sandig of the Corporate Government Sector and the logo designed by Engr. Rolando Milan from the Technical Services of COA Region XIII.

Explaining the meaning behind the slogan, Ms. Sandig said that gender inequality and stereotyping are among the most prevailing issues in society, with heightened awareness, these issues are gradually being addressed and traditional gender roles are redefined. Thus, both men and women are empowered to grow and achieve their unified goals to build a stronger foundation for our nation’s progress.

Meanwhile, the winning logo shows two faces in back-to-back, the female side depicted by a pinkish icon with a plus sign and the male side depicted by a bluish icon with an arrow sign. Their ears are merged and depicted by a target which shows a focal point. Engr. Milan explained that although the male and female have opposite viewpoints and varied outlooks in life, their minds are interconnected with each other for a common goal to achieve peace and harmony.

Auditor Sandig and Engr. Milan both received P5,000.00 and certificates of recognition which were awarded last 8 May 2017 during the culmination activity of the COA Week Celebration. The winning entries shall be used in the official letterhead of the COA GFP System and will be present in other official communications and publication materials together with the COA logo as prescribed by COA Memorandum No. 2017-11 dated 24 May 2017.

COA celebrates 118th year as enabling partner for better government service

Details: Published: 15 May 2017

The Commission on Audit (COA) celebrated its 118th year focusing on its role as an enabling partner for better government service. COA held activities highlighted by a recognition ceremony honoring the best audit performance as well as sports and other competitions from May 2-8, 2017 to mark its 118th anniversary.

“As auditors, we are not only ‘watchdogs’ guarding public resources but also ‘guardians,’ empowering and enabling government agencies to perform their mandates more efficiently and effectively,” said COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo.

“We acknowledge that to give better public service, we need to partner with our various stakeholders for the conduct of our various programs and projects,” Chairperson Aguinaldo added.

Commissioner Jose A. Fabia encouraged auditors to become better guides and to engage more with auditees for them to achieve growth. “Let us help our auditees discover their potentials and let us all grow together. Let us also continue our good standing among Supreme Audit Institutions and let us trail blaze to greater heights in international audit and accounting,” Commissioner Fabia said.

Commissioner Isabel D. Agito noted that COA has steadfastly adhered to its mandate for more than a century. “As the government’s enabling partner, our thrust is to ensure accountability for public resources, promote transparency, and help improve government operations with the end in view of ensuring a better life for all Filipinos,” Commissioner Agito said.

Meanwhile, the Commission honored audit teams and COA employees who have performed their duties with utmost excellence, courage and beyond expectations at the “COA Salutes the Best” program held at the COA Sports and Cultural Complex on 8 May 2017. It was a full harvest this year as the Commission found exemplary recipients in all categories. The Gawad Kahusayan was awarded to Audit Group M- Quezon City of the Local Government Sector and the National Government Sector 5A & 6A Audit Team No. R11-15 of the COA Regional Office No. XI. The Unliquidated cash advances of then Municipal Mayor of Alfonso Lista, Ifugao in CY 1994; Unliquidated Cash Advances from January 1998 to June 30, 2010 of then Municipal Treasurer of Tanudan, Kalinga; and the Audit on the cash and accounts of the Municipality of Amulung, Cagayan were deemed Outstanding Audit Reports.

In the individual categories, the Gawad Karangalan was conferred to Pedro C. Pascual, Administrative Aide III at the COA Regional Office No. II (for Level I), Humphry G. Torres, Information Technology Officer III at COA Regional Office No. XI and Christina E. Delos Santos, State Auditor IV at COA Regional Office No. XIII (for Level II), and Araceli P. Geli, State Auditor V at COA Regional Office No. XI (for Level III). State Auditor Romel C. Espiña of COA Regional Office No. XIII received the Gawad Kagitingan award while State Auditor Mary D. Bacwaden was awarded the Gawad Bilang Katangi-tanging Pinuno.

Former State Auditor Evelyn Louise E. Rivera of COA Regional Office No. VII was recognized as the Most Productive Retiree. Nine officials and employees from the Central Office and 23 from the Regional Offices were presented with the Loyalty award.

Revelries include sports, folk dance and choral competitions, a book fair and booths for government services.

The Commission traces its roots to the Office of the Insular Auditor of the Philippine Islands created through an unnumbered memorandum signed by then US President William McKinley on 8 May 1899. The institution has since evolved into a three-person collegial body with greater independence and scope as the Supreme Audit Institution of the Philippines under the 1987 Constitution.

The Commission is presently enacting reforms that will steer the institution into an organization that creates positive impact in government and society; empowers and enables government agencies to perform their mandates better; produces high quality, fair and timely audits; and increases stakeholder ownership and understanding. In order to accomplish these goals, the Commission will likewise strengthen its various capacities and capabilities and enhance its support infrastructure.

Congratulations COAns and happy 118th anniversary!

COA collaborated with top organizations in hunting potential talents

Details: Published: 20 April 2017

The Commission on Audit (COA) thru the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) has launched programs for Campus Recruitment I Career Fair as part of the initiatives under "Strengthen Capacity and Capability" of the COA Strategic Plan for 2016- 2022 which aims to intensify the recruitment process for potential recruits in the fields of Accounting/auditing, legal, information technology and other fields of discipline.

The HRMO, under the -leadership of Director Noel B. Clemente, received an overwhelming response from the country's leading universities and organizations after having a persistent communication with them on possible partnership. Beginning mid of 2016, the team led by Ms. Imelda V. Clave, Officer-In-Charge, Human Resource Policy Studies and Standard Services, already toured several prominent universities. It kicked off at the San Beda College, Manila on October 2016 with over a hundred attendees and University of Sto. Tomas with about nine hundred (900) attendees. Both schools have participants from other universities and colleges within the Metro Manila. It was followed by a 3-day job fair activity at the Ateneo De Manila University - School of Law on January 2017 where Director Carmelita T. Sanchez, Legal Services Sector, shared her knowledge about the legal profession and benefits from working in the Commission.