Quezon City – The Commission on Audit (COA) and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) formed a partnership to strengthen coordination and cooperation in both agencies’ anti-corruption efforts.

COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and PACC Chairperson Dante La. Jimenez signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on 2 October 2018 at the COA Commission Proper Boardroom. COA Commissioners Jose A. Fabia and Roland C. Pondoc, COA Assistant Commissioner Alexander B. Juliano and PACC Executive Director Eduardo V. Bringas witnessed the signing.

The MOA calls for collaborative efforts and harmonized approach for both agencies in the performance of their respective mandates. It covers, in the area of coordination and cooperation- referral of information, consultative meetings, continuing review and joint task force on matters within their jurisdiction.

“The purpose of the MOA is to strengthen the cooperation and coordination between our agencies intended to benefit both in terms of the performance of our respective mandates. The main point is to be able to provide relevant information between us that will help us do our jobs better,” Chairperson Aguinaldo said.

“We will take this MOA by heart and this will be one of our bibles in instituting a corrupt-free bureaucracy,” noted Chairman Jimenez. He stressed the importance of the joint task force and noted that many of the complaints the Commission submitted to the President have many COA findings. Chairman Jimenez also announced that he will be having an Ulat sa Bayan on 4 October 2018.

Created on 4 October 2017 through Executive Order No. 43, the PACC’s powers and functions include the hearing and investigation of administrative cases against appointees with Salary Grade 26 and above as well as the conduct of fact-finding inquiries and lifestyle checks against all covered presidential appointees and other public officers allegedly involved in graft and corrupt practices.