COA open to 'relaxing' requirements for audit reports amid pandemic

The Commission on Audit (COA) is willing to simplify some of its requirements from government agencies in the annual audit process, COA chairperson Michael Aguinaldo said on Tuesday.

Aguinaldo made the remark during the COA's briefing before the House committee on public accounts on the reported discrepancies of the Department of Health in using its P67.32 billion COVID-19 budget.

"Dahil kung mayroong some requirements that our perhaps not apt under the present circumstances, puwede naman kami sulatan at tanungin kung puwedeng irelax 'yung ibang requirements," Aguinaldo said.

"We know it's pandemic... we know that some adjustments have to be made... we know that there's certain priorities we need to consider at this time, especially allowances and the like," he added.

It was raised during the briefing that some healthcare workers associations are having a difficult time complying with the requirements set by the state auditor when it comes to providing benefits to medical frontliners. 

As stated in Sec. 2 (1) Art. IX-D of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, COA shall "have the power, authority, and duty to examine, audit, and settle all accounts pertaining to the revenue and receipts of, and expenditures or uses of funds and property, owned or held in trust by, or pertaining to, the Government, or any of its subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations with original charters, and on a post-audit basis."

"No law shall be passed exempting any entity of the Government or its subsidiary in any guise whatever, or any investment of public funds, from the jurisdiction of the Commission on Audit," the Constitution also states.

Among the principal duties of the COA is the submission of annual reports to the President and the Congress on the financial condition and operation of the government. —NB, GMA News