COA to conduct citizens’ audit of Yolanda projects

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Audit (COA) will involve ordinary citizens in its audit of selected shelter projects in areas affected by Typhoons Yolanda and Sendong.

Forming a partnership with the country’s biggest coalition of non-government organizations (NGOs) working for social development, the agency said a Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA) was underway.

COA chairperson Michael Aguinaldo and Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) executive director Sixto Donato Macasaet signed a memorandum of agreement  on Oct. 25 to determine how they could work together in conducting a CPA audit of shelter projects implemented by the government in Palawan, Tacloban and Iloilo that were affected by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and in Iligan City affected by Typhoon Sendong in 2011.

Aguinaldo has expressed optimism that the cooperation between COA and CODE-NGO would result in greater transparency and citizen participation in governance.

“The big picture here is transparency so that the people can see for themselves the actions taken by government,” he said in a statement. 

Through the CPA, audits – though still under the direct supervision and control of COA – are conducted with citizen auditors included in the team to encourage vigilant participation in exacting government accountability. 

COA said the agency and CODE-NGO would develop the audit design and objectives as members from both COA and CODE-NGO undergo a training program on the CPA. 

CODE-NGO has 12 national and regional networks representing 1,600 non-government organizations, people’s organizations and cooperatives.

 Its advocacies include transparency, anti-corruption and government accountability; people’s participation in governance; asset reform, environment and social services.