BONTOC, Mountain Province (PIA) – The Mountain Province Provincial Accounting Office((PAccO) sustained its foothold as a leader in accounting excellence, demonstrating transparency, reliability, and accuracy in financial management as the Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines (AGAP) recognized it as the 2023 Most Outstanding Accounting Office during the awarding ceremony at the IEC Convention Center in Cebu on October 9, 2024.
Provincial Accountant Theodore B. Marrero and Wrylin M. Batnag, representing Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., received the award for the province.
Mountain Province was the lone Provincial Accounting Office -awardee in the entire country with 81 provinces. This was the sixth time the PAccO clinched said award.
Nine of the ten municipal accounting offices in Mountain Province were also recipients of the 2023 AGAP Outstanding Office Award- Barlig, Bauko, Besao, Bontoc, Paracelis, Sabangan, Sadanga, Sagada, and Tadian.
The respective municipal accountants namely Stenelyn G. Lamaton (Barlig), Irene T. Paac (Bauko), Marcia D. Clemente (Besao), Yolanda G. Comafay (Bontoc), Vivian A. Tagel (MA of Paracelis represented by Sunshine T. Tesoro), Alfa G. Beke (Sabangan), Jennifer G. Farong-ey (Sadanga), Richard A. Aragon (Sagada), and Marlene B. Bayongasan (Tadian), along with the representatives of their local chief executives, received their awards.
The Mountain Province accounting offices were the only awardees from the Cordillera region.
The AGAP Awards Committee chose the awardees based the criteria on Accuracy, Timeliness, Reliability, and Compliance with Accounting and Budgeting Rules and Regulations.
The awarding was part of the AGAP Annual Convention 2024 held on Oct.9 to 12 with the theme, “Improving Financial Inclusivity and Securing Future-Proof Public Finance.”
Marrero attributed this unprecedented achievement of the accounting offices to the support , trust and guidance of the local officials, the Commission on Elections and the local government employees.
“We dedicate this 6th AGAP award to our elective officials led by our Honorable Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. Indeed their unwavering support, their trust and confidence in us and their respect to COA rules and regulations, have practically inspired us and made the executions of our jobs in accordance with Existing Government policies easier without so much haggles.
As in the previous years. We, again, express our sincere gratitude to all employees of the Provincial Government for their full cooperation. And of course, to our guardians, our Auditors for their continuing unselfish guidance,” Marrero said.
Meanwhile, Gov. Lacwasan is elated about the recognitions, and he encouraged the PAccO and the municipal accounting offices to strive to ascend to the pinnacle for a 100 percent representation in future AGAP Awards.
“Mengalalasing ak tay (I am very happy because) once again you have placed our dear Mountain Province in the national spotlight. Sapay kuma ta itultuloy yo ay mangipapati ay mangitagtag-ay sinan munmunisipyo yo ya probinsya tako (I hope that you will continue to strive to uplift your municipalities and our province) through your continuing excellent service. I encourage all Accounting Offices in the province to work harder towards a 100% (11/11) inclusion in the next AGAP Awards. It would be my greatest honor as your Governor,” Gov. Lacwasan was quoted saying in a Facebook post of Hail, Mountain Province. (JDP/VJLT-PIA with reports from PLGU- Mt. Province MP)
