COA Region IV-B pledges to liberate gov’t from graft & corruption through integrity
“We know that we can liberate our government from graft and corruption – and it all begins with having an impeccable integrity.”
Thus, said COA Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) Regional Director (RD) Ma. Corazon S. Gomez in her opening remarks during the taking of the Integrity Pledge of COA Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) officials and employees on March 26, 2019 at the COA Sports and Cultural Center in Quezon City.
“The Integrity Pledge refreshes us of our purpose in the government service, resets in our minds the values we need to carry to uplift the country, and reminds us to never let our guard down in our work because temptation is abound everywhere in the workplace,” said RD Gomez.
Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc administered the Integrity Pledge to 277 COA Region IV-B personnel, five employees from COA Region IV-A, and one from the Professional and Institutional Development Sector.
“We just want to remind our COA employees that we need integrity in our work,” said Commissioner Pondoc, adding that the Commission Proper will always continue reminding COA officials and employees to always keep their integrity intact.
“If I could teach only one value to live by, it would be this: Success will come and go, but integrity is forever. Integrity means doing the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, whether or not anyone is watching. It takes having the courage to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences will be. Building a reputation of integrity takes years, but it takes only a second to lose, so never allow yourself to ever do anything that would damage your integrity,” said the commissioner, quoting from an article by Amy Rees Anderson in Forbes.com.
Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Lynflor M. Adolfo thanked Commissioner Pondoc for advocating the Integrity Pledge in the Commission and the Commission Proper for establishing the COA Intensified Management Program on Integrity.
“Rest assured that we, in COA Region IV-B, shall continue to strive, to work and serve as COA employees and public servants with the highest degree of integrity from this day on,” said ARD Adolfo.
Earlier, Atty. Bernard D. Bakilan, Chief of the Fraud Audit Services, discussed the salient features of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713), Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3017), and the Revised Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for COA Officials and Employees (COA Resolution 2018-010) during the Region’s Year-End Assessment and Planning Conference, which was a preparatory activity to the taking of the Integrity Pledge.
The Integrity Pledge is part of the activities implemented by the COA Integrity Management Committee under the COA Intensified Management Program on Integrity, which aims to build a culture of integrity in the Commission, rooted in the strict adherence to established laws and regulations. The signed Integrity Pledge will form part of the 201 files of the participants. #