Press Release
September 30, 2009

COA AGREES TO SUSPENSION OF PRE AUDIT REQUIREMENT

During the budget hearing of the COA, Chairman Reynaldo Villar agreed to the recommendation of the Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Senator Edgardo J. Angara, to hold in abeyance the implementation of the pre audit requirement newly required by the COA. The pre audit requirement was abandoned in the 90's because it delayed the implementation of urgent projects and weakened the expenditure of badly-needed resources by the LGUs, executive departments and agencies

"This pre audit requirement hinders the speedy implementation and completion of projects by adding another layer to an already excessive process." said Angara.

Responding to the call of many LGUs and government officials to suspend the pre audit requirement, Chairman Reynaldo Villar agreed to review pre audit, come up with a justification and suspend its application until after consultation with the bureaucracy and Congress.

The Senator, however, urged COA to strictly enforce post auditing and enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Office of the Ombudsman with a provision on prompt prosecution of cases in accordance with the speedy trial periods stated in existing laws.

"COA should find a way to make the post audit more credible and effective rather than having government offices endure the pre audit that gets in the way of efficiency in the implementation and completion of projects," ended Angara.

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