IPOPHL Maintains Highest COA Audit Mark for Seven Years

November 5, 2020

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) received the highest mark from the Commission on Audit (COA) for its financial records in 2019.

COA's Independent Auditor's (IA) Report for IPOPHL covering fiscal year 2019 said its financial statements "present fairly, in all material respects." 

It added that its financial position, financial performance, cash flows, changes in net assets/equity, comparison between budget and actual amounts for the year, and notes to financial statements were in accordance to national accounting standards. 

The 2019 IA findings mark IPOPHL's seventh consecutive year of obtaining an "unqualified opinion", the best auditing mark which can only be achieved if an entity's financial statements as a whole are free from "material misstatements," whether due to fraud or error. 

"IPOPHL's continued receipt of COA's best mark proves our integrity and commitment to uphold transparency and accountability in all our financial activities," IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba. 

"It also demonstrates our strategic approach in optimizing public resources while maintaining a healthy financial position," he added. 

COA's annual audit ensures that government offices adhere to the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and good governance. The audit is conducted in accordance with the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions, the global auditing standards for entities in the public sector. ### (Janina Lim, Media Relations Officer)