THE House Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, ended Thursday the scrutiny of the proposed P15.074-billion budget of the Commission on Audit (COA) for 2026.
THE allocation breakdown includes P13.41 billion for personnel services (PS), P724.927 million for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and P112.374 million for capital outlay (CO).
Lawmakers raised concerns over COA’s lack of manpower, which has led to lapses in scrutinizing government transactions, including the DPWH’s several ghost and substandard flood-control projects.
Cordoba explained that the agency suffers from a high attrition rate due to low salaries, with many employees choosing to transfer to other agencies offering higher pay. He then appealed for COA’s exemption from the Salary Standardization Law, admitting that the agency is severely understaffed to fully carry out its mandate of auditing government expenditures.
Assistant Commissioner Lorna Cabochan reported that in 2021 COA hired 243 employees but lost 560, while in 2022 it recruited 571 but 595 left. In 2023, 632 were hired yet 490 resigned or retired, and in 2024, 545 joined the service but 465 separated.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Julius Cesar Vergara underscored the importance of modernization as the government shifts to digital systems.
“Ngayong mas maraming ahensya ng gobyerno ang lumilipat sa digital system at e-governance, ano ang ginagawa ng COA upang imodernisa ang audit process para palakasin ang digital auditing capacity at magbibigay ng real-time na impormasyon o findings na maaaring makita ng publiko, na magiging kapaki-pakinabang?”
COA Commissioner Douglas Michael Mallillin said the commission started implementing a 10-point agenda in 2023 anchored on digitalization, particularly the e-audit.
“We are reviewing the government accounting manual. Marami rin kaming tinitignan tulad ng electronic payment, electronic invoicing, at na-mention din po kanina yung aming document management system will become part of the entire ICT digitalization po natin,” he said.
Suansing followed up on COA’s compliance with the General Appropriations Act, which requires financial reports to be uploaded on its website by September 30. Assistant Commissioner Roy Ursal assured lawmakers they are finalizing the reports in time for the deadline.
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