PCW, COA inks deal to improve audit of gender budget

Another milestone in the implementation of the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) is underway with the recent collaboration between the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) on knowledge-sharing and capability development program on mainstreaming gender and development (GAD) concerns in COA and other government agencies.

Section 36 of Republic Act No. 9710 or the MCW mandates COA to conduct an annual audit on the use of the GAD budget as part of the institutional mechanism to implement the law. This is consistent with COA’s constitutionally-vested power, authority, and duty to examine, audit, and settle all accounts pertaining to the revenue, receipts of, and expenditures or uses of funds and property of all agencies of the government. The audit of GAD fund is intended to determine the judicious use of the GAD budget in addressing gender issues.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding between PCW and COA to be implemented from June-December 2016, COA auditors will be trained on national and local GAD Planning, Budgeting, and Reporting processes. COA on the other hand will provide clarifications on the GAD Funds Audit Guidelines during PCW organized capacity development sessions.

“This collaboration between COA and PCW is very important for us. COA provides a very strong impetus for government to abide by the Magna Carta of Women, particularly on the GAD budget policy. On the other hand, it really impresses on the State Auditors on GAD that COA is very serious in its task of monitoring the GAD funds. Their appreciation of the GAD Planning, Budgeting, and Reporting process in addressing gender issues is key to improving the way they do their annual audit of GAD funds,” said PCW Deputy Director for Operations Manuela M. Silva, during COA’s Mid-Year GAD Assessment where she discussed the content of the MOU and Work Plan.

The Work Plan includes capacity development activities for COA central office and regional offices auditors on preparation and review of GAD Plan and Budget and GAD Accomplishment Report, and use of the HGDG for attribution of major programs to GAD, as well as the conduct of GAD Planning and Budgeting Fora and GAD Focal Point Assembly.

PCW and COA also agreed to conduct an assessment of the partnership by December  2016 to take note of the lessons learned in the course of its implementation, as basis for renewal of the partnership and other future collaboration