THE MANGAHAS INTERVIEWS

COA can't publish ‘premature’ reports, ex-commissioner notes

After a party-list representative called a Commission on Audit report on the Health Department “premature," former Commissioner Heidi Mendoza explained Friday that the process prevents the COA from publishing reports prematurely.

Speaking on The Mangahas Interviews, Mendoza explained that the COA would not release a premature report as it was a long process before a report was issued.

“May number of days na hindi ako masyadong sure because wala na ako, no, baka binago na. Parang 10 days after the issuance of the final [report] pwede na siyang i-post o [publish],” she said.

(There are a set number of days before a COA report can be released, though I'm not sure if that is still case. It's something like 10 days after the issuance of the final [report], then it can be posted or published.)

“Kaya ito yung assurance na hindi puwede maglabas ng premature kasi mahaba yung proseso, 'di ba? At meron pa nga kaming x number of days bago namin i-post ang inyong annual audit report,” she added.

(This is the assurance no report would be prematurely released. It's a long process, right? We also have an x number of days before we can even post an annual audit report.)

During a forum, Mendoza also explained that the phases of the audit process included planning, execution, reporting, and monitoring.

“Kasama po nung audit execution ‘yung tinatawag nating exit conference. Hindi ka puwedeng mag issue ng report ng walang exit conference kasi kailangan mo mabigyan ng management na sumagot,” she said.

(Included in the audit execution is what is called an exit conference. You cannot issue a report without an exit conference. You have to allow management to respond.)

“Hindi totong walang exit. Na-exit na po. Kaya nga po tapos na dahil nga ho meron nang annual audit report ang 2020 at meron na nga audit review,” she added.

(It's not true that there wasn't an exit conference. There was one. That's why there is a 2020 annual audit report an audit review.)

She also explained that state auditors also look at the compliance of the agency.

“Ang sabi po sa hearing ay hindi pa kami tapos mag submit ng dokumento, tama naman po dahil nga hindi na-attach… kapag na-submit na ‘yung documents kailangan naman tignan ng auditor natin kung anong sinasabi,” she said.

(What the DOH said in the hearing was that they still had documents to submit. That's true because these documents weren't attached previously. Once these are submitted, auditors will have to go over them and see what's in them.)

“Pangalawa, hindi lang ‘yung compliance ‘yung titignan ng auditor. Titignan niya rin ano ‘yung recurring findings, bakit paulit-ulit na hindi sila nakakapag submit,” she added.

(Auditors aren't just going to look at the compliance. They will also look into recurring findings - why do they repeatedly fail to submit these documents.

The COA had earlier flagged the Department of Health (DOH) over several deficiencies in its utilization of P67.32 billion in COVID-19 funds.

Mendoza previously said that audit reports are not attacks against concerned agencies.

President Rodrigo Duterte told COA to stop "flagging" government agencies, adding that it was tantamount to "flogging." — DVM, GMA News