Negros DBM depot gets 4th straight clean COA audit

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — The Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Service Local Government Unit (PS LGU) Depot of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental has received a clean audit rating from the Commission on Audit (COA) for the fourth consecutive year.

The recognition follows the formal transmittal by COA Regional Office VI of the Summary of Audit Observations and Recommendations (SAOR), covering the PS LGU Depot–Bacolod’s operations for the year ending Dec. 31, 2024.

In a recent letter, COA Supervising Auditor Melanie P. Valaquio informed Depot Supervisor Arnel J. Argusar that the audit was conducted in compliance with the 1987 Constitution and Presidential Decree No. 1445, or the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines.

The audit was led by Audit Team Leader Simonette D. Cataluña and aimed to assess the reliability of financial reports, identify areas for institutional improvement, and evaluate the implementation of prior years’ audit recommendations.

COA confirmed that the audit was performed according to International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions, aligning with globally accepted public sector auditing practices.

The transmittal included the SAOR and the Status of Implementation of Prior Year’s Audit Recommendations, outlining the results and progress on previous findings.

The depot’s sustained clean audit record underscores its strong operational efficiency and full compliance with government regulations.

Officials credited the achievement to the leadership of General Services Office (GSO) head Arnel Argusar and the commitment of the GSO team, who prioritized transparency, accountability, and sound procurement practices to ensure proper use of public funds.

COA also expressed appreciation for the cooperation and support extended by PS LGU Depot–Bacolod officials and staff during the audit process.