I.

Introduction

On-the-job Training is a part of a college curriculum that aims to train and

orient students about the work and their future career. It is a type of skill

development where a worker learns how to do the work through hands-on

experience. On the Job Training is one method by which students are exposed

with different work situation designed to give students an opportunity to

experience and a chance to apply the theories and computations that they have

learned from the school. It also helps the students to acquire relevant knowledge

and skills by performing in actual work setting.

On-the-job training is very important not only to teach students regarding

their chosen career but also to show students the reality about working. The

students will be exposed to the actual work related to the course that they are

taking. It also allows those with no experience to work and to learn at the same

time. It helps trainee to learn more about his chosen field and practice what he

has learned from the school. It also helps in the building up of the trainee’s

competence. Of course, when a student is competent enough, he will be able to

handle situations properly and he’ll be able to socialize well with his colleagues.

He will also be able to work well with everyone and he’ll have a good teamwork.

It also enhances the critical thinking abilities and discipline of the student

conducting his training in a company. His ability to make sound decisions and

evaluate pertinent factors will be improved.

 Having a proper On-the-Job Training helps in the preparation of future

professionals for their future jobs. What the students learned in their On-the-Job

Training, even the little things, can be applied when they are already working.

Students will be trained not only academically but socially as well. The way they

work and communicate with others will not be a problem for them anymore. It

also gives the trainee the chance to immerse himself in his chosen field and

experience and learn the skills necessary to the industry he is interested in.

Working with experienced staff, one will be able to observe hoe the job is done

properly.

Aside from experience, On-the-Job Training allows the trainee to get

acquainted with the real professionals and to meet people having different

positions in the company, either high or low. The trainee will be able to know how

to adjust to other people’s personalities and attitudes. It requires effort and

seriousness. A trainee should take the training seriously as it can be powerful

tool for a person in preparing for the next chapter of life as a professionals. It can

possibly be a source of recommendation when they take that big lift from being

students to career professionals someday.

II. Company Background

A. History

Auditing as a tool for effective governance has been recognized and

practiced since the Spanish colonial era. One proof of this was the residencia, an

inquiry into the administration of an outgoing Governor General and

consequently of other officials. Conducted by the Royal Audiencia, it was

designed to hold colonial officials to strict accountability for all acts during their

term of office. Another was the visita de tierra, a visit of inspection made every

three years, which often revealed glaring anomalies in the handling of local

government accounts. Colonial officials also performed investigations akin to

audit at the time. One was a fraud audit of sorts for galleon trade conducted in

the early 1700s. Another, which involved the inspection of the Misericordia de

Manila in 1751, had shades of financial audit. In 1739, a Royal Decree by the

King of Spain established the royal exchequer which was the national treasury of

that era. All books of accounts of the Spanish colonial government were required

to pass through the scrutiny and certification of the contador or the accountant

and that of the oidor, a representative of the Spanish crown, who by the nature of

his duties may be considered as the precursor of the auditor.

It functioned as the supreme auditing institution of the islands until the end

of the Spanish rule in 1898. Staffed by a president, two auditors, a fiscal,

accountants and examiners, the Tribunal had exclusive jurisdiction over the audit

of all financial matters affecting the colony. These personnel, all appointees of

the King, were required by law to review all vouchers and to cross-check them

against corresponding entries in the books of accounts. The Birth of an Institution

Nurturing a nascent government requires a mixture of boldness and prudence.

And at a time when the early Philippine government was being zealously fleshed

out by its American rulers emboldened by their newfound power, then President

William McKinley ensured a healthy dose of prudence in these activities. An

unnumbered memorandum signed on May 8, 1899 by McKinley gave birth to the

Office of the Auditor for the Philippine Islands. By 1900, the Office had become a

fixture of government. The civil government was formally ushered in 1901 under

William Howard Taft. The major change in the nature of government had ripple

effects in the structure of government. One result of such change was the

conversion of the Office of the Auditor of the Philippine Islands to the Bureau of

the Insular Auditor. However, it was more than a mere change of name. A

provincial audit division was created for the Bureau. Moreover, double-entry

bookkeeping was introduced which accounted for fuller analysis of settlements

and ensured a higher degree of correctness. In 1905, a change of guard took

place. Taft resigned as Civil Governor and was replaced by Luke E. Wright who

led as Governor General. Under his administration, Act No. 1402 was passed

whereby the Bureau of the Insular Auditor was renamed the Bureau of Audits.

Growth and Changes: Becoming A Stronger Institution As the nation celebrated

its independence with the promulgation of the 1935 Constitution; the institution
also reached a milestone. The 1935 Constitution expressly provided for a

General Auditing Office, thereby elevating the audit institution to a constitutional

body. Renamed as the General Auditing Office or GAO, it now embarked on a full

Filipinization of the institution as a reflection of the government-wide transition to

self-governance. For the first time, the institution was headed by a Filipino

Auditor General in the person of the Hon. Jaime Hernandez. As a major stride

towards the independence of the audit institution, the GAO was explicitly placed

under the direction and control of an Auditor General to separate it as an

organization from the Executive and other departments of the government. In

1972, the country was placed under Martial Law. Government experienced a

major upheaval, and the GAO was not exempted. The GAO was renamed the

Commission on Audit (COA) and was granted broader powers under the new

Constitution promulgated in 1973. Under this Constitution, COA was given a

broader area of audit coverage by including the accounts of all subdivisions,

agencies, instrumentalities of government and government-owned-and-controlled

corporations among those to be examined, audited and settled. As opposed to

having an Auditor General single-handedly leading the GAO, the new

Constitution provided for a three-man collegial Commission on Audit. This

change aimed to strengthen the independence of the auditing office and improve

the quality of its decisions, given the rationale that a three-man body was less

susceptible to pressure than an office held by a single person. It worked as a

built-in internal check within the Commission and encouraged opposing views to

surface thereby resulting in earnest consultation and better deliberation. In the

years that ensued, the Commission was a hub of activity. A landmark legislation

on auditing, Presidential Decree 1445 or the Government Auditing Code was

promulgated in 1978. A Standard Government Chart of Accounts was likewise

issued which greatly facilitated financial audit for computerization purposes. The

Commission also implemented its comprehensive audit program focusing on the

3Es: economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Installation of this program

represented a break from tradition that laid undue emphasis on compliance and

voucher audit. And on top of all these, the Commission embarked on a massive

reorganization and professionalization of its personnel. This era will also be

remembered for the significant involvement of COA in international events such

as initiating the establishment of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit

Institutions (ASOSAI), on to sponsorships of trainings for Asia’s auditors and

culminating with the hosting of the XI International Congress of Supreme Audit

Institutions (INCOSAI) in 1983. It was also during this time that a COA Chairman

was first elected to the United Nations Board of Auditors.

Years later, the world witnessed the 1986 EDSA Revolution. It was truly a

historical event that highlighted the need for reforms in government as a whole. It

provided everyone a chance for introspection and created an avenue towards

change. As fate would have it, the COA again found itself working under a new

government, under a new Constitution and with an even broader scope of

authority. The 1987 Constitution maintained the independence of the

Commission on Audit as the supreme auditing arm of the Philippine government.

Moreover, the Constitution reiterated COA’s role as the sole official external

auditor of government agencies as well as government- owned- and-controlled

corporations (GOCCs). In other words, the previous practice of some GOCCs

and other government agencies of hiring private accounting firms as a

requirement of foreign funding institutions to act as their auditors for foreign-

assisted projects was no longer allowed. Change, it seems, is the inescapable

destiny of the Commission. But as history proves, whatever the nature of change

brought about by national political events, the Commission manages to make it

for the better.

 B. Mission and Vision

COA Mission

To ensure accountability for public resources, promote transparency, and help

improve government operations, in partnership with stakeholders, for the benefit

of the Filipino people.

COA Vision

A trustworthy, respected and independent audit institution that is an enabling

partner of government in ensuring a better life for every Filipino.

 D. Products and Services

The Commission on Audit (COA) is the Philippines' Supreme Audit

Institution. The Philippine Constitution declares its independence as a

constitutional office, grants it powers to audit all accounts pertaining to all

government revenues and expenditures/uses of government resources and to

prescribe accounting and auditing rules, gives it exclusive authority to define the

scope and techniques for its audits, and prohibits the legislation of any law which

would limit its audit coverage.

 With the COA Pag-Ibig Staffs

Despedida blow-out by our superiors

 Post audit checking on requirements and accepted check vouchers

Inputing in the laptop the summarized

vouchers after stamping each document
 With Maam Cecilia A. Pontillas
Regional Supervising Auditor
State Auditor IV
With our supervisor Sir Elleizar D. Abelo

Giving of the Certificate of Completion

Trainees at Commission on Audit
III. Personal Learnings and Experiences

As we make our way to the last year in college, we are required to take

On-the-job training in any establishment for preparation in working in real world

after school. We are interning at a government agency, which is Commission on

Audit. It is a company where it grants its powers to audit all accounts pertaining

to all government revenues and expenditures/uses of government resources and

to prescribe accounting and auditing rules, gives it exclusive authority to define

the scope and techniques for its audits, and prohibits the legislation of any law

which would limit its audit coverage. Of course, most of its files are highly

confidential so it is expected that the trainees will audit those selected documents

only.

It was June 8, 2016 that we were about to start our work at Commission

on Audit Region X office located at Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City. We were eight

trainees who were selected by the Human Resource Manager. As we gone there,

we were told that we would be assigned in different agencies at their COA office.

We were assigned by pair, so Mitchael and I were assigned at COA office of the

Pag-Ibig. Some were assigned at Department of Public Works and Highways,

others at City hall and the two were remained at the Region X at the Auditors’

office.
 We started our on-the-job training proper on June 9, 2016 and assigned to

work with the Post Audit checking. But before anything else we were registered

first in their biometrics for our daily time record. We started in disbursement

vouchers and supervised by Mr. Elliezar D. Abelo a CPA and an auditor under

Mrs. Cecilia A. Pontillas, regional supervising auditor. On our first day I was very

nervous on what will happen in working there but the people we have worked

with made it very enjoying. They let us feel that we really belong. There were

about five staffs in the office namely Maam Janneth Galarpe and Renfe Actub

who were assigned in the receiving area, and the three auditors Maam May

Caday, Maam Dimple Gemina and Sir Elliezar Abelo. We have experienced a lot

of accounting works like post auditing, cash examinations, payroll, filing, sorting

of files, disbursements and etc. I can say that Mr. Abelo thought us a lot. Under

his supervision I’ve learned bunch of things and developed character at

workplace. In terms of awareness in the field of auditing at Commission On Audit,

each employee’s engagements are to be performed by having competence in

analytical approach and process, and in technical subject matter under

consideration. Due professional care must be exercised at all times. Employees

must exercise competence and utmost care from the date the engagement is

being negotiated with the client. It involves diligence and appropriate attention in

carrying assignments.
 In our working at a government agency was very challenging but fun

because they acquired us working assignments everyday but we were more

focused on post auditing. We were checking every documents of the client if they

were able to submit the necessary requirements for their loans. We also checked

every amount in the disbursement voucher if it reconciled in the request for

payment. We also encountered some of the topic of our Business Law and Tax

subjects especially when it comes to the contract documents like deed of

assignment, contract to sell with the buyer’s conformity, special power of

attorney, loan and mortgage agreement, declaration of real property, certificate of

acceptance, conformity to assignment of the contract to sell, location map and

promissory note. These were the necessary requirements that must be submitted

by the client for their loans. In our audit work, we had seen discrepancies with

regards to the computations in transfer tax, because the rate is always changing

that made us confused. As we told about it to our supervisor, he said that we

would just put a remark in any item that we have seen errors and confusing.

Another situation was during our cash examination in which we were not able to

locate or find the 0.40 cents, which made the data not balance. So what we did

was we worked back as necessary to find such errors, and we found out that the

amount of ending balance of the total deposits was entered incorrectly to the

beginning balance on the succeeding month. That experience was quite

challenging because as an accountant, we should be particular even in a single

centavo. The Commission on Audit gives a lot of opportunities to new graduates

and new entrants preferably Certified Public Accountant board passers because
they offer good working environment. Working with Commission on Audit was

such a journey. We have developed as a trainee to follow strictly on instructions

to ensure that the process is properly sequence. Ask question, if required, to

clarify understanding about things and this prevent for incurring errors. I can say

that we gained to work effectively and competently in the organization. I improve

my self-confidence in socializing to people. I have the initiative in doing

something. I’ve learned to be flexible, because culture is always changing, thus

impacting the business model and corporate culture as well. In my 250 hours of

OJT I can say that the course I enrolled is exactly where I wanted and I will

probably stay in this profession for as long as job opportunities are present. On

my OJT I realize the importance of training and experience to the student like me

because I can use all of what I have learned during my training for my future

career. I was so glad because I had the opportunity to become a trainee in an

agency like the COA Pag-Ibig, I saw the kind of work that the employees do and

how they are responsible in their work to provide good services for the people.
 With all the knowledge and education I have imparted by my school

Mindanao State University at Naawan, I see myself five years from now to be a

smart, responsible and independent woman in a stable job, holding an

accountable position in a respectable company who value my existence and will

work in much better way, because of well known conditions, and settled

atmosphere, which helps to the growth of the organization. I will be an asset to

the company, where I work with. I see myself socializing to my co-workers at

Commission on Audit, yes it is my plan to work there because our superiors

inspire us how great it is to work in a government agency.

For me, this is another step of my journey. As I entered college I am

prepared that one day I will be working in the real world where I can impart all the

knowledge I’ve learn. So after taking this on-the-job training I am assuring myself

that this will help me in my future job. I know that 250 hours is not enough to fully

understand the real situation in working in real world but I am sure that I can cope

up easily and flexibly to whatever my future job will be. I am grateful that I will be

entering a new chapter in my life after OJT and graduation. I am excited on what

will happen next.

 IV. Conclusion and Recommendation