The Association of Government Internal Auditors (AGIA) took part in a virtual collaboration meeting on May 27, 2025, hosted by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) alongside the Philippine Quality Award Foundation, Inc. and the Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Competitive Development. Representing AGIA were President Dinah E. Pichay, Executive Vice President Daniel L. Ambasan, and Board Member Atty. Maria Teresa C. Alvarez. The meeting built on the May 5 initial dialogue and centered on the development of a localized ISO standard as a key element of the Performance Excellence Framework for government institutions.
Originally planned as a face-to-face gathering, the meeting was transitioned to a virtual format to facilitate broader participation and timely discussions. A central topic was the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) furnished by ARTA, which outlines the roles and responsibilities of each partner organization. AGIA’s inclusion in the MOU signifies its active and pivotal role in promoting quality and integrity in the public sector.
Following the meeting, ARTA circulated a revised version of the MOU on June 9 for final review and feedback. AGIA has formally expressed its commitment to the initiative by accepting its designated responsibilities, which include:
- Providing adequate pool of internal auditors as qualified assessors who are readily available for assessment and validation activities, ensuring sufficient coverage across all required standards; and
- Requiring its pool of internal auditors to undergo and complete the PQA Assessor’s Preparatory Course (APC) and participate in periodic refresher courses and annual calibration workshops, to ensure consistent understanding and application of the PQA criteria and program goals.
AGIA views this collaboration as a transformative opportunity to expand its reach and impact in advancing quality assurance and performance excellence across government agencies. Through its internal audit expertise, AGIA seeks to reinforce transparency, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and promote a shared culture of continuous improvement.
As the MOU enters the finalization phase, AGIA looks forward to further engagements with the partner agencies, confident that this partnership will serve as a cornerstone in institutionalizing quality standards and elevating public sector performance across the country.
