DepEd NCR Launches First Levelling-Off Consultation with COA Auditors on Gender and Development
In a historic first, DepEd NCR through its Human Resource Development Division convened a Levelling-Off Consultation Meeting with Commission on Audit (COA) auditors assigned to the Regional Office and the 16 Schools Division Offices.
Held at the DepEd NCR Regional Office Conference Room yesterday, December 3, 2025, the consultation focused on harmonizing approaches to auditing Gender and Development (GAD) programs, mechanisms, and personnel. This milestone coincided with the nationwide 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women and Children, underscoring the region’s shared responsibility to advance gender equality and safeguard rights across the education sector.
Guided by the leadership of DepEd NCR Regional Director and concurrent Officer-In-Charge of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Operations, Jocelyn DR Andaya, and aligned with the Region’s Priority 5 on strengthening governance, DepEd NCR marked a breakthrough in gender mainstreaming by directly engaging COA auditors to reinforce accountability across all programs, projects, and activities (PPAs).
The consultation tackled common Audit Observation Memoranda (AOMs), aligned auditing practices, and institutionalized gender-responsive policies. By fostering a culture of transparency, the active involvement of COA auditors ensures that inclusivity and equity remain central to education governance.
DepEd NCR officials emphasized that this first-of-its-kind consultation represents a turning point in strengthening governance and accountability—ensuring that programs, mechanisms, and people remain at the heart of transformative change.
