COA favors publication of annual reports but yields to Congress’ final word

The Commission on Audit favored retaining a proposed 2024 budget provision mandating the commission publish its annual audit report (AAR) on government agencies on the COA website, House Committee on Appropriations Senior Vice Chairperson Stella Quimbo of Marikina City said Monday.

Quimbo, standing as sponsor of COA’s proposed P13 billion budget for 2024, was referring to Special Provision Number 5 on the COA’s 2024 proposed budget.

The special provision states the COA chairperson and the COA website administrator or his or equivalent should ensure that COA's annual audit reports on agencies, which contains cumulative allotments, obligations incurred or liquidated, total disbursements, and the results of expended appropriations, including recommended measures necessary to improve their effectiveness and efficiency, are published on the COA website.

“Yes, agree sila (COA) to maintain the Special Provision number 5,” Quimbo said when asked by Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano if COA wanted the provision retained even if Ombudsman Samuel Martires urgedits dropping.

Martires had argued that the publication of annual audit reports allegedly made the Ombudsman look corrupt if the Ombudsman decided against filing a case based on the COA report.

Quimbo explained that the COA recognized that published AARs could be unfairly used against the agency.

“The COA agrees that it is important for transparency purposes that AARs need to be published. However, they also understand certain consequences that sometimes, this is being weaponized against agencies. They see such consequences na hindi naiiwasan,” Quimbo said.

(It is something unavoidable.)

“So, they submit to the will of Congress on what reforms we should put in place to balance these two needs: the need to make all government transactions transparent and how to protect our audited agencies,” Quimbo added.

Likewise, Quimbo said that COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba “also notes” that in other jurisdictions, copies of audit reports are subject to request under a Freedom of Information (FOI) measure.

“Whoever needs these reports, they will submit an FOI request. FOI requests need to be justified,” Quimbo said.

“Kung ano man po ang pasya ng Kongreso, susunod ang COA. Ang importante lang po sa COA ay maging transparent lahat ng transactions sa gobyerno,” Quimbo added.

(Whatever Congress decides to do, COA will heed it. What is important for COA is that all government transactions should be transparent.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News