DepEd earns clean audit opinion under Angara reform initiative

PHOTO FROM Agence France-Presse/INQUIRER FILES MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has significantly improved its compliance with Commission on Audit (COA) recommendations, resolving 83% of its outstanding audit findings in 2025, up from 52% the previous year, as governance reforms under Education Secretary Sonny Angara continue to take effect. According to COA’s consolidated annual audit report for the year ended December 31, 2025, the Department fully addressed 307 of 368 valid prior-year audit recommendations, marking substantial progress in strengthening institutional accountability, internal controls, and financial stewardship. The dramatic jump to an 83% implementation rate marks a key structural improvement over previous audit periods, where DepEd recorded 56% in 2022, 54% in 2023, and 52% in 2024. Article continues after this advertisement Marking his second year leading the department, Secretary Angara credited DepEd personnel for prioritizing fiscal discipline and system-wide cleanup. READ: DepEd completes partnerships with provinces to ease classroom shortage “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 said. “Moving our action rate from 52% to 83% shows that we are serious about safeguarding public funds. Under the Marcos administration, responsible budget management directly affects the speed and efficiency with which resources reach our classrooms, teachers, and learners,” Angara added. The milestone comes alongside DepEd securing an Unmodified Audit Opinion from COA for the third consecutive year—the highest rating issued by state auditors, indicating that the agency’s financial statements were fairly presented, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework. Article continues after this advertisement Out of a total pool of 882 prior-year audit observations tracked by COA, state auditors formally closed 345 items and updated or revised another 169 for ongoing compliance actions. DepEd’s 83% success rate reflects the 307 fully implemented recommendations out of the 368 actionable recommendations, with only 61 remaining for full implementation. Article continues after this advertisement DepEd reiterated its commitment to collaborate closely with COA to resolve all remaining audit findings, reinforcing institutional transparency across all regional offices and school divisions nationwide. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.