MMDA gets clean audit bill for 5th year

MMDA Chairman Ron Artes —Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) thanked its officials and employees after the agency obtained an “unqualified opinion” assessment from the Commission on Audit (COA) for the fifth straight year.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the MMDA officials and employees for their diligent efforts in ensuring the efficient implementation of the agency’s services for the public’s benefit,” MMDA acting Chair Romando Artes said in a statement on Saturday.

He also expressed his gratitude to the COA for the latest highest audit rating for fiscal year 2023, saying it highlights MMDA’s efforts in implementing reforms on its budgetary process, expenditures, and monetary reporting while continuously improving its quality services.

READ: MMDA spending on garbage collection up 84% since 2018 – COA

“We are proud of the five-year streak of unqualified opinions we have received. This audit assessment serves as tangible evidence of the MMDA’s forthright administration in financial performance,” Artes said.

A copy of the independent auditor’s report transmitted by the COA to MMDA stated, “In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the MMDA as of Dec. 31, 2023, and its financial performance, changes in net assets/equity, cash flows and the comparison of budget and actual amounts for the year then ended in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards.”

“We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion,” the report added.

To sustain its consistency in providing efficient services, Artes said the agency continues to push for projects, such as the MMDA Communications and Command Center, the Motorcycle Riding Academy, and the implementation of the Single Ticketing System.