Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco said that the Commission on Audit’s (COA) findings must be respected after the body received criticisms for flagging several questionable actions of various government agencies.
“The COA is a constitutional commission. It is assured of its independence. It has to remain independent and dapat naman talaga may check and balance. We have to achieve the level of transparency that is required… So, kailangan igalang natin ‘yung trabaho na ginagawa ng COA,” Tiangco expounded in an interview on INQside Look on Monday.
(The COA is a constitutional commission. It is assured of its independence. It has to remain independent and we must have checks and balances. We have to achieve the level of transparency that is required… So, we have to respect the COA’s work.)
He added that COA is the only agency mandated to ensure the proper management of public funds.
“Wala namang ibang ahensya na binigyan ng kapangyarihan na ‘yan kundi Commission on Audit. Kaya nga granted siya its independence. That’s why hindi siya under ng executive branch,” Tiangco further explained.
(There is no other agency that is given that power but the Commission on Audit. That’s why it is granted independence and it is not under the executive branch.)
Navotas City received the highest audit rating six consecutive times from COA.
Tiangco acknowledged the efforts of his colleagues for being able to achieve the rating.
“I would like to thank my co-workers in government. Hindi naman madaling makuha itong unqualified opinion… Hindi naman ‘yan kaya ng isang tao it’s really the whole institution cooperating,” Tiangco expressed.
(I would like to thank my co-workers in government. It is not easy to attain an unqualified opinion… One person cannot do it alone, it’s really the whole institution cooperating.)
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