Robredo to gov’t officials: Face and address COA findings

Vice President Leni Robredo (Screengrab from OVP)

MANILA, Philippines — Government agencies and officials should respond to—and not resent or take offense at findings and questions raised by the Commission on Audit (COA) over the handling of public funds.

Robredo stressed that COA is only doing its job to ensure that processes and regulations are being followed by government agencies to ensure that there is no corruption.

“Hindi natin dapat minamasama ‘yung mga reports na ‘to. In fact, binibigyan pa nga tayo ng opportunity na sumagot, na magpaliwanag, na maging mas transparent sa systems and processes natin,” Robredo said in a statement.

(We should not take these reports negatively. In fact, government agencies are being given the opportunity to respond, explain, and become more transparent with their systems and processes.)

“So when these reports and audits come—we must respond. Kasi we owe it hindi lang sa COA, pero mas importante, sa taumbayan,” she added.

(So when these reports and audits come—we must respond because we owe it not only to COA, but most importantly, to the public.)

Robredo encouraged state auditors to continue with their work as she called on government agencies to address flagged processes.

“Kung ang trabaho ng COA, ilatag ang mga audit reports para siguruhing walang halagang napupunta sa ‘di dapat kalagyan, ang tungkuling hinihingi naman sa government agencies: Ang magpaliwanag, ang tumugon, at bigyang-linaw ang mga tanong,” Robredo said.

(If COA’s job is to lay out the audit reports to ensure that no funds would be misspent, government agencies are tasked to explain and respond, give clarification to the questions.]

COA recently flagged several agencies in its recent annual report, prompting the public and lawmakers alike to question leaders and officials of these agencies, such as the Department of Health (DOH).

Meanwhile, for the third consecutive year, the Office of the Vice President received the highest audit rating from the COA back in June.

gsg