Commission on Audit

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

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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

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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.

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COA promotes renewable energy with solar rooftop project

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Published: 06 March 2017

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and PNOC RC President and CEO John J. Arenas (center) lead the inauguration ceremony for the 200kWp Rooftop Solar PV Project on 1 March 2017. With them are (from left) COA Commissioner Isabel D. Agito, Director Maria Carmina E. Cruz of the PNOC RC and Engineer Pedro L. Lite Jr., Vice President for Operations of the PNOC RC.

The Commission on Audit (COA) donned its environment-friendly hat by promoting renewable energy (RE) through the new 200 kilowatt solar rooftop facilities installed at its Professional Development Center (PDC) Building and new COA Dormitory. The project was made in cooperation with the Philippine National Oil Company – Renewables Corporation (PNOC RC).

COA and the PNOC RC held the switch-on ceremony for the rooftop solar PV project on 1 March 2017 at the PDC Building.

COA undertook the project in response to the government campaign to utilize alternative source of electricity at less cost.

“We are hoping that through this project we will be able to generate significant savings by lowering our electricity cost and at the same time, lower our carbon footprint for environmental reasons,” COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo said. He added that while only two COA buildings were installed with the rooftop solar PV, there is a lot of potential for the other Central Office buildings and Regional Offices.

View of the solar panels installed at the Professional Development Center

We are elated that our fellow government agencies, such as COA, are engaged in the development and implementation of renewable and efficient energy programs. It is evident that COA’s initiatives are aligned with the PNOC RC’s vision and the government’s thrust on promoting renewable energy. We are grateful and we are proud to be working with another government agency that shares the same values and vision and we look forward to working with COA as a long-term partner,” PNOC RC President and CEO John J. Arenas said.

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