COA adopts stricter guidelines on disaster funds

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) and the Australian government announced yesterday the launching of new rules that will improve the use and proper auditing of the Philippines’ disaster funds, including donations coming from other countries.

Stricter guidelines contained in the new Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Accounting and Reporting Guidelines aim to improve transparency and accountability in the use of disaster funds.

“Benchmarked against the International Standards for Supreme Audit Institutions, these will ensure that all disaster-related funds and donations are properly accounted for and efficiently utilized. They will fill in the gaps on disaster aid audit,” COA Chairman Maria Gracia Pulido-Tan said.

After Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated the Visayas in November last year and with the recent typhoons and other calamities that struck the Philippines, the public clamored for transparency on the use of government disaster funds and contributions from local and international donors, COA said.

The COA also acknowledged that the Philippine government is facing the challenge of protecting its disaster funds without impeding response time and recovery assistance.

“The use of the disaster accounting guidelines will make the Filipino people confident on how disaster funds are allocated, utilized and accounted for,” Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell said during the launch.