COA to review residency of state auditors

MANILA, Philippines - Newly-appointed Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan will look into the residency of its auditors as most of them are already overstaying in their posts.

Under COA rules, a director-level auditor can only stay in a government agency for 1-3 years while a resident auditor's term is 5-10 years.

Tan has already asked for a list of auditors and how long they have stayed in their current posts.

"We can shorten the allowed period. Gusto ko kasi mas definite yung tenure. Minsan kasi, kaya nagtatagal dahil may fields of specialization at hindi naman lahat ay may ganong capability,” she said.

Nonetheless, she said “we will review the residency of auditors. Hindi kasi maganda na nagtatagal sa isang agency lang."

Tan said she also plans to come up with a citizen's desk where the public can inform the agency of any anomalous transaction that needs to be investigated.

"Malaki ang magagawa ng mga mamamayan,sa citizen's desk pwede nilang isumbong ang mga nalalaman nila na katiwalian para maimbestigahan namin and they can expect that we will take action."

Tan however declined to give more details as the proposal is still being studied.

source