COA’s role is audit compliance by all gov’t agencies

This pertains to the comment of Mr. Bobit S. Avila in his column Shooting Straight that was published in the April 16, 2013 issue of The Philippine STAR raising the question whether to “streamline” the Commission on Audit’s “processes, reduce their bureaucracy, or abolish it” and alleging that the Commission’s “bureaucratic maze” in the government procurement process worsened corruption.

Please be informed that it is not the Commission on Audit that promulgates rules on government procurement. There is a law — Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act — that governs al government purchases, including those of local governments, mandating competitive bidding. There is a procurement policymaking body created under R.A. 9184, the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB), that is responsible for updating/improving the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Procurement Law. The Commission’s role is to audit compliance by all government agencies with R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules promulgated by the GPPB and the Department of Budget and Management.

In the public interest, please publish this letter.