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𝐶𝐴𝐺𝑊𝐴𝐼𝑇, 𝑆𝑈𝑅𝐼𝐺𝐴𝑂 𝐷𝐸𝐿 𝑆𝑈𝑅, 𝑆𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 7, 2024—𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮, 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 (𝗖𝗢𝗔), 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗢𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰, 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗖𝗮𝗴𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁, 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗢𝗔 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀.
The entrance conference enabled COA to outline the audit objectives, scope, and methodology. The participants, including Schools Division Superintendents, Regional Finance and Administrative Chiefs, and other key personnel, were briefed on the audit focus areas and timeline.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲:
𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘵 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘦: COA explained the audit process, highlighting the audit focus areas, evaluation criteria, and timeline. It allowed DepEd officials to prepare adequately for the audit.
𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴: The session aimed to align both DepEd and COA on the audit objectives, ensuring that both parties are on the same page to enhance the efficiency of the process.
𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: DepEd was encouraged to voice any concerns regarding the audit, with COA addressing queries and setting realistic expectations for the audit outcome.

𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦: COA emphasized the importance of internal control systems to support financial policy compliance, ensuring that auditable transactions are truthful and transparent.

𝗖𝗢𝗔 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
COA Resource Person Jessica R. Magallen stressed the significance of proper documentation and clear communication in delivering services. She reiterated that COA is mandated to conduct audits and ensure compliance with pertinent regulations.
Atty. Christopher Jan T. Que discussed the role of internal controls in supporting financial policies, adding that COA will thoroughly assess these controls. He also outlined the nature of audit notices, such as the Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM), Notice of Disallowance, etc. He further encouraged DepEd management to involve COA in future planning to align with auditing rules.
Audit Team Leader Aubrey A. Esparago highlighted the logistical needs for the audit, including workspaces and facilities for the COA team during their audit activities.

COA Regional Supervising Auditor Jesus Misael D. Almendralejo clarified that COA is not just a “fault-finding watchdog” but also a consultant and enabler. He advocated for a healthy, consultative relationship between DepEd management and auditors.

𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
DepEd Caraga Regional Director Maria Ines C. Asuncion expressed her gratitude to the COA team for their guidance. "It takes a lot of effort to make us understand your language," Asuncion remarked, acknowledging the complexities of fiscal management. She assured COA that despite occasional lapses, the intention is always to "make things right the first time."
RD Asuncion also commended the dedication of DepEd's finance and accounting personnel, recognizing their hard work and persistence in ensuring compliance with financial and audit regulations.

The conference was attended by one hundred participants, including regional and division-level officials, and served as a vital step toward fostering transparency and ensuring the responsible use of government resources.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151; 0961-737-08-73; 0977-739-44-53. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph

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