COA appointed external auditor of UN's FAO for 6 years — DFA

May 3, 2013 3:28pm


The Philippine Commission on Audit has been appointed as external auditor of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

In a news release, the DFA said the FAO Council approved the Philippine COA's appointment at its 146th Session last April 22 to 26 in Rome.

"The COA will serve as FAO External Auditor for a period of six years, commencing in 2014. This will be the Philippines’ second term as auditor," the DFA said.

For its part, the FAO Council confirmed the recommendation of its Finance Committee during a plenary session on April 23.

The DFA said the Philippine candidature sought to highlight the independence of the COA as a constitutional body, along with the current experience of COA in auditing within the UN system, especially the FAO.

Also, it sought to highlight the high technical competence of the Auditor General and staff; and the value-for-money service that was the trademark of previous work in the FAO.

During the FAO's plenary session, Philippine Ambassador to the Italy Virgilio Reyes Jr. conveyed appreciation for the support to the Philippine candidature.

He assured the COA will continue to exert best efforts to provide accurate, complete, balanced, and constructive outputs.

Support for the Philippine candidature and appointment came from the Asia Group led by Vietnam, the Africa Group represented by Cameroon and Congo, and the Near East Group represented by Afghanistan.

COA chairperson Maria Gracia Tan represented the agency in the presentation of candidacies to the Finance Committee last March 19. — LBG, GMA News