In response to the Commission’s commitment to institutionalize the conduct of the Citizen Participatory Audit, COA Regional Office VI conducted a 3-day preliminary activity on March 28-30, 2023 with invited Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and selected members of the CPA Team. Members from the Project Management Office (PMO), Office of the Chairperson, headed by Director Marites A. Odtojan, Officer-In-Charge, led the conduct of the activity.
The CPA Dialogue was conducted on the first day with representatives of 14 CSOs. Ms. Jennifer Andrea S. Imperial, Chief Administrative Officer of PMO congratulated the group as this is the most attended dialogue they have hosted so far for this year. An introduction to the CPA program was provided by Ms. Maria Ramona L. Jimenez, Supervising Administrative Office, PMO. A lively and empowering discussion was then led by Dir. Odtojan together with the CSOs representatives on the questions that solicited their point of view on what they want COA to audit under the CPA program; what measures/interventions/solutions/ they can suggest; what they can do to help in terms of resources/knowledge/skills; and what they want to know more about COA’s work.
The second day was focused on the capacity building of the CPA team together with representatives of the CSO partner, the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center (JASAC). The roles of the COA Auditors and the JASAC representatives were thoroughly discussed and the CPA audit topic, “Hospital Procurement and Management of the Province of Iloilo”, was introduced. To give the CSO partner a glimpse of the overall audit process, the Audit Plan was discussed by Mr. Wenceslao Valaquio, CPA Team Supervisor, while the Audit Program was presented by Atty. Mary Grace E. Sevilla, CPA Audit Team Leader.
On the third day, the momentous signing of the Memorandum of Agreement was undertaken. The Commission was represented by Director Marilou M. Rizarri, while JASAC was represented by its Director, Msgr. Meliton B. Oso. After the MOA signing, Msgr. Oso presented their members as follows: Yvonne G. Agreda; Ma. Lorena M. Dimatulac; Muriel S. Gabayeron; and Michel John L. Tanallon. Director Rizarri also proudly presented the members of the COA CPA Team, namely: Wenceslao P. Valaquio, Team Supervising Auditor; Atty. Mary Grace E. Sevilla, Team Leader; and the Team Members, Sky M. Buensuceso; Catherine T. Lamera; Atty. Bernadette S. Toralde; Jezebel L. Pandan; and Atty. Hayacenth Faye T. Rodriguez.
COA RO VI is looking forward to a fruitful and successful CPA engagement together with its CSO Partner, JASAC, who readily accepted the invitation to participate in this journey toward a more accountable and transparent government.
