Republic of the Philippines: COMMISSION ON AUDIT Commonwealth Avenue, Queson City, Philippines RESOLUTION No. Date SUBJECT: Proceedings of the Commission Proper through virtual meeting or videoconferencing during states of public health emergencies, national calamities, and other emergent circumstances WHEREAS, Section 6, Article IX-A of the 1987 Constitution provides that the Commission on Audit (COA) en bane “may promulgate its own rules concerning pleadings and practice before it or before any of its offices;” WHEREAS, pursuant to the said Constitutional provision, this Commission has prescribed the 2009 Revised Rules of Procedure of the COA (RRPC) which became effective on October 28, 2009 after due publication in the newspaper of general circulation; WHEREAS, Section 4, Rule III of the 2009 RRPC provides that “The Commission Proper shall decide by a majority vote of all its members in any case or ‘matter brought before it. . .”; and Section 5, Rule X thereof provides that “The conclusion of the Commission Proper in any ease brought before it for decision shall be reached after formal deliberation by its members;” WHEREAS, while formal deliberation by members of the Commission Proper on any case or matter brought before it has customarily been in an in-person proceeding conducted in the Commission Proper Board Room at the Central Office of COA, Section 3, Rule III of the 2009 RRPC provides that “Whenever public interest requires, the Chairman on his own initiative or upon recommendation of any of the two Commissioners may cail a special session at a time and place designated by the Commission Proper,” WHEREAS, the onslaught of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic prompted the national goverment to declare a state of public health emergency! and state of calamity? throughout the country. Accordingly, community quarantines have been imposed in varying degrees across the country; and health and safety protocols have been adopted resulting in lockdowns or reduced operations of COA offices in the Central Office, regional offices and field auditing units. Meanwhile, in-person proceedings of the Commission Proper have been limited and less frequent; * Presidential Proclamation No. 922, March 8, 2020. 2 Presidential Proclamation No. 929, March 16, 2020. aUAL WHEREAS, the current pandemic situation has brought forth opportunities and challenges to the Commission to adopt innovative ways of discharging its functions under new normal working conditions. The use of information and communication technology through virtual platforms for meetings and video conferences gain traction and acceptance as effective alternative to in-person activities during states of public health emergencies and national calamities; WHEREAS, emergent circumstances other than states of public health emergencies and national calamities may also warrant the conduct of or participation in, the virtual meeting or videoconference proceedings of the Commission Proper; NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission Proper RESOLVES, as it does hereby RESOLVE, to hold its formal deliberation of cases and matter brought before it and allow participation therein, through virtual meeting or videoconferencing, in lieu of in-person proceedings during: (1) state of public health emergencies; (2) state of national calamities; or (3) other emergent circumstances, as may be determined by the Commission Proper, RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Office of the Commission Secretariat shall make the necessary preparation and arrangement for the efficient conduct of the virtual meeting or videoconferencing, including proper coordination with the Information Technology Office (ITO), Systems and Technical Services Sector (STSS), as regards availability of online platform and creation of link for this purpose; RESOLVED FINALLY, that the proceedings during the virtual meeting or videoconferencing shall be kept in utmost confidentiality in accordance with COA Resolution No. 2012-012 dated October 29, 2012, and the recording thereof shall be done only by the authorized personnel of the ITO, STSS, who shall transmit a copy thereof to the Office of the Commission Secretariat for custody and reference. This Resolution shall take effect immediately. Done this 1% day o¢ OCH r001, in Quezon ity, Philippines. MICHAEY. G. XGUINALDO ‘Chgiqperson wiih - PONDOC Commissioner * Intemal Guidelines on the Confidentiality of the Deliberations and Processes during Commission Proper Meetings, a dhe Release of is Decisions and ActionsRepublic ofthe Philippines COMMISSION ON AUDIT Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City ADMINISTRATION SECTOR RECORDS MANAGEMENT SERVICES [Reference Number JReference Date ADM.RMS.2021-10-004742, October 20, 2021 02:58 PM ROUTING SLIP [Sender ALEJANDRO P. GEMENTERA fo AILGOA Offices. [Subject Proceedings of the Commission Proper through virtual meetings of Videoconterencing during slates of public health emergencies, ational calamities and other emergent circumstances Remarks / Instructions / Actions ‘Attached is COA Resolution No. 2021-026 dated October 19, 2021. For your information, please. [Date ‘October 20, 2021 02:58 PM IDoc Number: ADM-RMS-2021-10-004742 lSender: ALEJANDRO P. GEMENTERA ro: AICOA Offices [Subject Proceedings of the Commission Proper through virtual meetings lof videoconterencing during states of public health emergencios, national calamities and other emergent circumstances