COA chief makes bid for Unesco auditorship

The Commission on Audit (COA) has launched the candidature of its chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba to become the external auditor of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).

The agency’s bid was launched during a diplomatic reception attended by several ambassadors and Unesco representatives that was cohosted with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Aug. 31.

DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo said the COA’s “impressive track record of working with the United Nations and its specialized agencies” testified to the COA’s internationally recognized, tried-and-tested standard of excellence.”

Manalo noted that Cordoba had already served as a member of the UN Board of Auditors for three consecutive terms, external auditor of the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, International Labor Organization and the UN Industrial Development Organization.

If elected, Cordoba promised to maintain “integrity and independence” in delivering external audit services with conformity to international audit standards. —JACOB LAZARO