The Quezon City government has received its highest Commission on Audit (COA) rating in its history for its annual audit report for the year 2020.
After earning an "unqualified opinion," the highest audit opinion that COA gives to a government agency, Mayor Joy Belmonte, in a statement, said the recognition is a testament that her vision for good governance has been internalized by the city's leaders.
"This is the most important recognition that a local government unit like us can get. This is a validation of our efforts for good governance in Quezon City and this is also a welcome surprise since we received this in our first term," Belmonte said.
She also said that despite the pandemic, city residents were given the assurance that "the finances of the city are properly used for services, programs, and projects for the benefit of all."
COA resident auditor and lawyer Rex Quieta turned over the annual audit report during Monday's flag raising ceremony. He said the local government complied with all the standards of the government's auditing firm.
The local government believed this became possible after Belmonte, just after assuming the post in 2019, immediately issued her first executive order which was to create an Internal Audit Service (IAS) office to ensure that assets and resources are properly and transparently accounted for.
"IAS is tasked to advise the mayor on matters relating to management control and operations audit; conduct compliance, management, and operations audit; review and appraise systems and procedures, organizational structures, asset management practices, financial and management records, reports, and performance standards of the executive department; and analyze and evaluate management deficiencies and assist top management by recommending realistic courses of action, among others," the local government said.
Quezon City also established a business-one-stop shop where business applications, permits, licenses, and payments required for every business owner are placed in one area to streamline the process, remove red tape, and lessen processing time.
A registry system for jobs and employment was also created under Belmonte's administration, the local government added.