The groundbreaking ceremony and time capsule laying for the Commission on Audit (COA) Provincial Satellite Auditing Office (PSAO) Rizal took place on January 5, 2020. The site of the new PSAO building is located at Sitio Cabading, Barangay Inarawan, Antipolo City.
Supervising Auditor (SA) for LGS-D Province of Rizal, Ms. Olivia I. Bautista opened the groundbreaking ceremonies and welcomed all the guests to the significant event headed by COA Chairperson, Commissioner Michael G. Aguinaldo, Assistant Commissioner Luzvi P. Chatto, COA Region IV-A Regional Director Mario G. Lipana, Assistant Regional Director Maria Oliva V. Ortega and Director Amelia P. Valdez of the General Services Office, Administration Sector of the Commission. SA Bautista also welcomed the guests from the Province of Rizal, headed by its Governor, Hon. Rebecca “Nini” A. Ynares, Antipolo City Mayor Hon. Andrea B. Ynares, City Legal Officer Atty. Cedrick Justice U. Capiral, City Engineer Engr. Jesus S. Gonzaga, City Planning and Development Officer Ms. Rowena T. Zapanta, Provincial Treasurer Ms. Ma. Teresa E. Lasquety, and OIC-City Budget Officer Ms. Priscilla R. Padua.
“The PSAO building will remind us, auditors that we are guardians of public funds,” SA Bautista said in her Opening Remarks.
In her short message, Mayor Andrea B. Ynares thanked the Commission for choosing Antipolo City to be the site of its satellite office, which she said can foster good governance. She likewise said: “isa pong karangalan na makapag ambag sa anti-corruption efforts ng ating pamahalaan sa pamumuno po ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.”
On her part, Governor Rebecca A. Ynares said that the Province of Rizal is very glad and thankful that COA chose the Province of Rizal to be the site of its new PSAO.
Director Mario G. Lipana, in his short message expressed his gratitude to the City of Antipolo for donating the land which will be the site, not only of PSAO Rizal, but also of other government institutions as well, as it is the proposed location of a multi-government center in the City.
Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo likewise thanked the City of Antipolo and the Province of Rizal for being gracious donors by allowing COA to use the land for its satellite office in Rizal. He mentioned that there are currently 49 operating PSAO all over the country, 43 of which were constructed within the last five and a half years, and that PSAO Rizal is among 15 satellite offices undergoing construction. Chairperson Aguinaldo also spoke of the importance of interdependence among different bodies of government that work together towards a common goal. Lastly, he thanked the members of the COA family for their perseverance, especially during this difficult time; that despite the pandemic, government auditors still go out to do their work. Lastly, he encouraged everyone to find a silver lining in these trying times and to make the best of every situation.
After the Chairperson’s message, Fr. Felipe Lindo Pedraja led the groundbreaking ceremony initially with prayers and the blessing of the ground which will become the site of the project. It was followed by the time capsule laying and the ceremonial shoveling led by Chaiperson Aguinaldo, Governor Ynares and City Mayor Ynares.
This was followed by a short closing message from Assistant Regional Director Maria Oliva V. Ortega, who recalled that she was designated as a Supervising Auditor in the Province of Rizal from CY 2012 to CY 2016. She fondly remembers the assignment as her first experience in local government audit. To cap the event, she expressed her appreciation to the hosts, and coordinators particularly to the Supervising Auditor of Rizal, Ms. Olivia Bautista, her Audit Team Leaders and staff, the officials and employees of both the Provincial Government of Rizal and City Government of Antipolo, representatives of DPWH 2nd Engineering District of Rizal headed by Engr. Juliana Vergara as well as COA PIO representatives and COA Region IV A officials and staff. She also thanked Assistant Commissioner Luzvi P. Chatto and Director Amelia Valdez for participating in the groundbreaking ceremony.
The construction of the PSAO Rizal is expected to be completed by December this year.