Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Friday that it has secured its third consecutive unmodified opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA), alongside a remarkable increase in compliance with recommendations from previous years. This achievement reflects the department's commitment to adhering to financial reporting standards under the leadership of Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
According to Philippines News Agency, the unmodified opinion signifies that DepEd's financial statements are prepared fairly and comply with accounting standards. Secretary Angara emphasized that the department's reforms have fostered fiscal discipline and a comprehensive system overhaul. These improvements not only enhance financial accountability but also benefit the education sector as a whole.
"Fixing long-standing audit issues isn't just an accounting exercise-it's about operational integrity and fulfilling President Bongbong Marcos's mandate for transparent, accountable governance," Angara stated. He further remarked, "Under the Marcos administration, responsible budget management directly affects the speed and efficiency with which resources reach our classrooms, teachers, and learners."
Out of 882 prior-year audit observations tracked by COA, 345 items have been resolved, while another 169 are either updated or in the process of compliance actions. Secretary Angara highlighted the significant progress in addressing previous findings during his second year of leadership. As of 2025, the agency has resolved 83 percent of COA audit findings.
"Moving our action rate from 52 percent to 83 percent shows that we are serious about safeguarding public funds," Angara asserted. The consolidated annual audit report by COA for the year ended December 31, 2025, indicates that DepEd has completely addressed 307 out of 368 audit recommendations from 2024, with only 61 items pending full implementation. This 83-percent implementation rate marks a substantial improvement from 52 percent in 2024, 54 percent in 2023, and 56 percent in 2022.
