THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) received its highest audit rating from the Commission on Audit (COA) for fiscal year 2021, according to MMDA Chairman Attorney Romando Artes.
This will mark the third consecutive year that the similar audit rating was given to MMDA in 2019 and 2020. During those times, Artes was still the Assistant General Manager for Finance and Administration.
The COA gave an “unqualified opinion” – considered as the best opinion it can render to a government agency – on the fairness of the presentation of the MMDA’s financial statement.
Artes thanked the COA for the recognition, saying that the MMDA has initiated reforms on its budgetary process, expenditures, disbursement, and financial reporting.
“We have to sustain, if not improve, these established reforms to be able to serve Metro Manila better, especially since we are now reeling from the effects of the pandemic,” he added.
Because of the MMDA’s good financial management, personnel of the agency now receive increased benefits such as minimum wage for job order personnel, among others. The MMDA also upgraded 570 of its job order personnel to casual positions.
For his part, MMDA General Manager Undersecretary Frisco San Juan, Jr. said “these changes have benefitted not just the agency, but also its employees and their morale, and the stakeholders, as well.”
To sustain the momentum in ensuring effective delivery of its services, the MMDA have likewise started upgrading its facilities, foremost of which is the construction of the new MMDA head office building in Pasig City, which was inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte last month.
The MMDA also continues to push for more programs and policies pursuant to its mandates and functions, including but not limited to construction and rehabilitation of flood control infrastructures, traffic management reforms, and disaster preparedness, among others, which the current officials hope to be continued by the incoming administration.