The Commission on Audit (COA) Regional Office No. V saved the best before the year 2019 ended as COA Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc administered the Oath of Commitment to Integrity on 17 December 2019 at the Legazpi City Convention Center.

It coincided with the year-end Gender and Development (GAD) celebration which also featured a seminar on GAD Sensitivity and Awareness with former COA Assistant Commissioner Lourdes M. Castillo as the resource person.

Commissioner Pondoc stressed the importance of maintaining integrity in the workplace, quoting a few words from Amy Anderson’s article “Success will come and go but Integrity is forever.”

Commissioner Pondoc also took the time to answer the queries, issues and concerns of several regional employees through an open forum.

Regional Director Roland A. Rey, for his part, reminded the Bicolano auditors that reciting the Integrity Pledge further affirms the responsibilities and duties of a COAn, not just as a public servant but as a guardian of government funds.

A Seminar on R.A. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees was conducted by the Civil Service Commission on 16 December.

The event concluded with the signing of the pledge form by the regional officials and employees, to be attached to their personnel files. – Marian J. Paje (Training Specialist I, COA Region V)