Koko Pimentel questions huge number of vacant positions in COA

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III during the plenary deliberations in the Senate in this photo taken on November 16, 2023. Senate PRIB file photo / Joseph Vidal

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Monday questioned the huge number of unfilled positions in the Commission on Audit (COA).

During the Senate plenary deliberation on COA’s P13.36 billion proposed budget, Pimentel noted about 5,000 vacant out of 13,000 positions in the commission.

“What’s keeping the COA from filling up their authorized positions?” Pimentel asked.

Senator Sonny Angara clarified that there are 4,633 unfilled positions out of the 13,283 in COA and said the large deficit in the commission’s manpower is due to its high attrition rate.

READ: Senate panel swiftly approves COA’s P13.360B budget for 2024

“There’s been an effort to fill up the unfilled positions in the past,” Angara, who heads the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said. “They’ve hired hundreds in the last few years, but unfortunately there is an attrition rate.”

READ: COA: AARs publication good for transparency, but Congress has final say

Angara attributed this high turnover rate to COA employees seeking better job opportunities.

“I think some of the COA employees, the auditors, they move on to ‘greener pastures,’” Angara said, adding that they have been hired by local and foreign employers in the public and private sectors.