With the same goal of reviewing financial operations and accountability, the Commission on Audit (COA) has conducted a general annual exit interview for all PNU campuses on April 30, 2025. The hybrid meeting conducted physically at the PNU Manila Executive Lounge and Board Room and via Zoom, was participated in by PNU officials from across campuses with University President Dr, Bert J. Tuga at the helm and accompanied by the Vice Presidents, Executive Directors and Provosts, and respective personnel of Financial Management Office and Units.

Meanwhile, COA was represented by the respective members of the team assigned to all campuses, led by the COA team of PNU Manila, comprised of Ms. Cecilia E. Bernales, the Supervising Auditor, Atty. Precious Joy E. Borromeo, the Audit Team Leader, Mr. Lester A. Arnesto, the Audit Team Member, and Ms. Annaliza V. Alon, Administrative Staff.

Dr. Tuga introduced key officials, including vice presidents and department heads, while Supervising Auditor Bernales presented the audit team.

The session focused on the Summary of Audit Observations and Recommendations (SAOR) in four (4) categories: Financial Audit, Compliance Audit, Program Evaluation, and other Compliance Issues. Auditor Bernales acknowledged PNU’s timely responses and confirmed that no major financial integrity issues were found.

PNU was also found compliant with key laws and regulations, including Tax Laws, GSIS Laws, the National Health Insurance Act of 2013, the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), and the Property Insurance Law.

To further address some of COA’s findings and recommendations, the PNU Audit Task Force will convene a meeting to discuss and prepare the formal report for submission to COA.

This, however, did not impede the PNU campuses from receiving an overall Unmodified/Unqualified Opinion for Fiscal Year 2024. This is the 4th year in a row that the institution has received this acknowledgement through a clean opinion from COA.

An unmodified/unqualified opinion is issued when “the auditor concludes that the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework (𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘦 ‘𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘖𝘈 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘵 𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨,’ 2022).”

In his closing remarks, Dr. Lordinio A. Vergara, Vice President for Finance and Administration, commended the efforts of the Finance and Administration team to continuously comply with the government regulations. He reaffirmed that PNU is committed to accountability and transparency in transactions, and the services should be more efficient.

Source:

𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘦 ‘𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘖𝘈 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘵 𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 (2022, June 22). Commission on Audit. Retrieved April 30, 2025, from https://www.coa.gov.ph/clarification-on-the-use-of-the-phrase-highest-coa-audit-rating/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ-6_dleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFMQkQyY2tRbTZsbFhsWHoyAR4aaYAXLVummjYDN8UBHBqG5vnvx7lWli1hYovgHCYuKU-Vjp5wRm8fDFlIFA_aem_uM0YUhj6dVY2u5hUeNISPg