Iloilo City earns 2nd straight COA ‘unmodified opinion’

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City government has again secured an unmodified opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA) on its financial statements for fiscal year 2025, marking its second straight clean audit result under a new administration.

“An unmodified opinion was rendered on the financial statements for the year then ended,” read part of a letter from COA-6 officer-in-charge and director Maria Gleda Lim to Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu.

Treñas-Chu welcomed the recognition, describing it as a reaffirmation of the city’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance.

“For my first year as mayor, this is a meaningful highlight of our governance journey. But this achievement is not mine alone. It reflects a whole-of-department effort from all city departments, offices, and personnel who ensured diligence, compliance, and accountability in the use of public funds,” she said in a statement on Sunday, June 14.

An unmodified opinion, also called an unqualified opinion, is issued when the auditor concludes that the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework.

While Treñas-Chu described the rating as the “highest audit opinion” given by COA, the commission clarified in 2022 that “an audit opinion should not be viewed as a rating, score or grade, with ranking of lowest to highest.”

The commission has also emphasized that such opinions relate only to financial statement presentation and do not assess an agency’s overall compliance with laws, efficiency, or effectiveness in operations.

[Editor-added background — verify or trim:] The COA is the Philippines’ independent constitutional body mandated to examine and audit the revenues, expenditures, and use of funds of all government agencies.

The unmodified opinion was last given to the city government during the final year of the administration of former Mayor Jerry Treñas, Raisa’s father.

“[The audit makes] both a continuation and reaffirmation of our shared commitment to good governance across administrations,” Treñas-Chu added.

Treñas-Chu also acknowledged the role of COA in helping strengthen the city’s governance systems through its independent audits and recommendations.

“As we move forward, this recognition further strengthens our resolve to sustain — and even elevate — our standards of transparency, accountability, and efficient public service for every Ilonggo,” she added.

City accountant Michelle Lopez said the recognition, covering fiscal years 2024 and 2025, represents more than a favorable audit result.

“Behind this accomplishment is the product of diligent work, countless hours of reconciliation, tight schedules, follow-ups with other offices, corrections, deadlines, and the responsibility of ensuring that public funds are properly accounted for. These require patience, discipline, diligence, and a team that is committed to getting things right,” she stressed.