News Release | Commission on Audit

Commissioner Pondoc receives PICPA 2021 Special Achievement Award

Published: 29 November 2021

Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc received the 2021 Special Achievement in International Professional Involvement Award from the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) on 25 November 2021. The awarding ceremony is one of the highlights of PICPA’s 76th Annual National Convention held on 24-27 November 2021 with the theme "Transform: Embracing Possibilities. Realizing Potentials."

PICPA recognized the Commissioner’s involvement in the area of auditing, financial advisory and consultancy, economics, public debt, credit union development, anti-terrorism, transparency and accountability, corruption mitigation and gender mainstreaming. He has participated in various international conferences, summits, meetings, seminars, and workshops spearheaded by organizations of the United Nations (UN) such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labor Organization (ILO) and UN Office on Drugs and Crime as well as the international public audit community and the Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions in Asia, Europe and North America. COA has been the External Auditor of the WHO, FAO and ILO and was recently elected to the Governing Board of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions. PICPA acknowledged Commissioner Pondoc’s contribution in enhancing the image of the Philippine Accountancy Profession in particular, and the country in general.

"God is so good! Being the custodian of the fiscal welfare of our nation, the Commission on Audit will always be ready to adapt to the changing landscape and withstand the crippling effect of this pandemic. It is the spirit of unity that gives us hope and strength to continue our mandate to provide sincere, transparent, and honest service to the Filipinos. This award is an acknowledgment of the international audit community’s highest regard for the competence and integrity of the entire Commission," Commissioner Pondoc said as he appreciates the prestigious recognition for all his hard and honest work.

Published: 22 November 2021

Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo was honored with the 2021 Distinguished Public Service Award from the Government Financial Management Innovators Circle (GFMIC), Inc. on 18 November 2021 as part of its Annual Membership Conference held on 18-19 November 2021 via Zoom platform.

GFMIC is an organization of government financial management professionals who utilize information and communications technology as a tool for productivity, transparency, and accountability.

GFMIC bestowed the prestigious award to Chairperson Aguinaldo in recognition of his remarkable achievements and notable service in the Commission and contribution to enhancing transparency and accountability in public service. Chairperson Aguinaldo spearheaded the implementation of a comprehensive, dynamic, and innovative seven-year strategic plan improving government audit, adjudication, and investigatory functions, government accounting, administration, and support to operations and engagement of stakeholders.

GFMIC acknowledged the Chairperson's exemplary leadership and expertise in governance and implementation of notable projects, which included the full implementation of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards and applicable Philippine Financial Reporting Standards, with far-reaching effects on the promotion of efficient, effective and transparent government operations. Chairperson Aguinaldo was also recognized by the international audit community, having been elected as the External Auditor of the International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization as well as Chairperson of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions Working Group on Public Debt, Governing Board Member of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions and Chairperson of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Supreme Audit Institutions Training Committee.

Published: 10 November 2021

The Commission on Audit (COA), the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of the Philippines, recently assumed the Vice Chairmanship of the ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions (ASEANSAI) for the term 2021-2023 during the 6th ASEANSAI Summit held virtually on 2 November 2021, hosted by the Office of the Auditor General of the Union of Myanmar. SAI Philippines also retains its Chairmanship of the ASEANSAI Training Committee (TC) for biennium 2022-2023, with the SAIs of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand as members.

Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, together with Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc, led the Philippine delegation that also included Assistant Commissioner Cora Lea A. Dela Cruz of the Professional and Institutional Development Sector. The nine Auditors-General of the ASEANSAI, the Head of ASEANSAI Secretariat from SAI Indonesia, representatives from development partners and technical support staff from respective SAIs were also present during the Summit.

In his acceptance speech as the Vice Chairperson of the ASEANSAI, Chairperson Aguinaldo said that “the new ASEANSAI Strategic Goals of Fostering capacity development, Intensifying knowledge sharing, Strengthening cooperation and Improving internal governance exist because we believe that these are going to bring our organization to a new frontier, but I must also underline that as we progress, we must ensure that no one is left behind. For me, this is the spirit of cooperation and international understanding that further potentiates our mission.”

In COA’s capacity as the incoming Vice Chair, Chairperson Aguinaldo also presented the Consolidated ASEANSAI Committees’ Work Plans for 2022-2023, the activities and main deliverables of which are tied up with a specific strategic goal in the organization’s Strategic Plan for 2022 – 2025.