The Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines (AGAP) has recognized the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as one of the Outstanding Accounting Offices in 2021 for its good and stringent policy on financial reporting.
DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. thanked AGAP for bestowing the said award, which he said, a testament of the agency’s commitment to quality, timeliness, and accuracy in its finances from the central office down to the regional and field offices.
“Our sincere appreciation to AGAP for this award. Rest assured that the DILG will continue to promote transparent, sound and excellent fiscal management in the department from the Central Office down to the field offices,” he said.
AGAP is a group of more than 10,000 accountants, budget officers, supply officers, cashiers and all personnel belonging to the Finance Group from national government agencies, local government units, and government-owned or -controlled corporations.
Abalos commended Assistant Secretary for Administration, Finance and Comptrollership Ester Aldana and all DILG Accounting Personnel nationwide for demonstrating integrity and commitment to respond to the challenges and demands of ensuring sound and efficient fiscal management and operations within the Department.
He said the award signifies that the DILG accounting office truly embodies the Department’s core values of dedication to public service, integrity and innovativeness, leadership by example, good governance, client-focus and organizational competence and effectiveness.
AGAP President Tina Rose Marie Canda, stated in her letter to the DILG, that the agency was chosen by the Commission on Audit (COA) as one of the awardees for its quality, timeliness, and accuracy of its 2021 financial reports.
Asec. Aldana, who received the award on behalf of DILG, said AGAP is “an institution that promotes the interest of government accountants and improves the practice of government accountancy.”
“It is gratifying, motivating, and reassuring to see all the awardees whose respective accounting offices were chosen by COA. Your collaborative efforts and resolve contributed greatly in the pursuit to come out with quality, accurate, and truthful financial reports,” she said.
She said the awardees are chosen based on the recommendation of COA, whose criteria for judging include unqualified COA findings, and the accuracy and timeliness of submission of financial reports.
Aside from the DILG, other AGAP awardees include one corporate government sector, 22 NGAs, and nine local government units.