AGIA remains vigilant in aligning training operations with current and emerging regulatory requirements of government regulatory agencies, because we believe that compliance is not only a matter of legal necessity but also a vital component in upholding standards of excellence and operational integrity.
The AGIA, through the Training and Development Committee, held collaboration meetings with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Audit (COA), each with a distinct agenda yet united in purpose: to ensure that all training offerings meet the requirements mandated by them. Through these meetings, a culture of transparency, diligence, and continuous improvement is fostered by all stakeholders.
1st Collaboration Meeting: with the DBM-Systems and Productivity Improvement Bureau (SPIB)
Conducted in June 13, 2025, the meeting’s goal was to update SPIB on the progress of AGIA’s training offerings on internal auditing and internal controls, specifically for the 3rd quarter of 2025. This is in pursuance of the provisions set in Memorandum of Agreement between the DBM and AGIA executed in April 24, 2025 for the parties to cooperate and collaborate, where feasible, in the efforts to strengthen the internal control systems of NGAs, GOCCs, SUCs, and LGUs, and to promote the use of DBM-issued rules, regulations, and circulars for the strengthening of the ICS, including internal audit as a key part thereof, of the government agencies, among others.
Also discussed during the meeting are the planned activities of AGIA in the 2nd semester of CY 2025 , such as the following:
(1) Free webinar on Baseline Assessment of Internal Control Systems (BAICS) for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) as part of AGIA’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative,
(2) Local Government Units (LGU) Forum to be conducted in August at the Royce Hotel, Clark, Pampanga, and
(3) 2025 Annual Convention in October in Palawan
For these 3 events, the DBM-SPIB committed to provide resource speakers from their pool to discuss topics on internal auditing, internal controls, and other relevant updates and issuances.
The meeting was attended by SPIB officials led by Dir. John Aries S. Macaspac, Asst. Dir. Rochelle F. Ramirez, Ma. Concepcion Perez, Manuel Niverba, and Janisah Ebrahim. AGIA was represented by President Dinah E. Pichay, Atty. Ma. Teresa Alvarez, Maureen A. Haduca, and Trisha Monica Abad.
2nd Collaboration Meeting: with the COA-Professional and Institutional Development Sector (PIDS)
The meeting, conducted on July 8, 2025, was requested by the AGIA to seek clarification on the provisions of COA Circular No. 2025-003 dated January 28, 2025, issued as guidelines for conducting trainings, briefings, seminars, or workshops on accounting and auditing rules, and which mandates that these be conducted solely by COA or its authorized units. The same Circular requires that private entities must obtain prior consent from COA to conduct such events, and any unauthorized contracts will be disallowed in audits.
During the meeting, AGIA reaffirmed that it is not competing with the COA in providing trainings on accounting and auditing rules, but rather complementing its efforts—particularly when COA’s speakers are not available or insufficient to meet the demand from other sectors or participants in need of such trainings.
Key points of clarification presented and addressed included the effective date of the Circular, which is fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. As the Circular was published on June 9, 2025, it only took effect on June 24, 2025. Therefore, no suspensions or disallowances should be issued for trainings conducted with non-accredited resource persons prior to this date. A clarificatory Memorandum to all COA State Auditors shall be issued for uniform implementation, the COA assured.
Regarding the accreditation of resource speakers, COA clarified that the accreditation guidelines are still under development. In the meantime, private training organizations must request speakers directly from the COA until the official guidelines are established.
The meeting was presided by COA-PIDS Asst. Commissioner Lito Q. Martin, while AGIA was represented by President Dinah E. Pichay, Dir. Anthony A. Lewis, and Ms. Maureen Haduca. Also in attendance are the officials of the Government Financial Management Innovators Circle (GFMIC), Inc. led by its VP for Internal Affairs Mr. Clarito Alejandro DL. Magsino
The two collaboration meetings yielded several invaluable lessons and established best practices for maintaining regulatory compliance in training operations: ‘Collaboration is Key’: successful alignment requires input and cooperation from stakeholders to break barriers that hinder compliance efforts. Both meetings not only addressed challenges but set the stage for long-term partnerships and compliance management.
