Commission on Audit Chairperson Ma. Gracia M. Pulido Tan’s Opening Remarks at the Welcome Reception For the 46th Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) Governing Board Meeting February 18, 2013, Malacanan Palace, Manila His Excellency, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III; the Honorable Executive Secretary, Paquito Ochoa, Jr; the Honorable Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Albert del Rosario; the Honorable Secretary of Finance, Cesar V. Purisima; the Honorable Secretary of Budget and Management, Florencio Abad; the Honorable Secretary Julia Abad of the Presidential Management Staff; the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and Chairman of the ASOSAI, Mr. Vinod Rai; the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea and Secretary General of ASOSAI, Dr. Kun Yang; the Senior Assistant Secretary General of the Board of Audit of Japan and Training Administrator of ASOSAI, Mr. Seishi Tashiro; the Honorable President of the Asian Development Bank, Mr. Harukiko Kuroda; the founding father of ASOSAI, former Chairman of the Commission on Audit, Chair Francisco S. Tantuico; Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps; ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I am very honored and privileged to open this Welcome Reception that His Excellency, President Aquino, is tendering for all of us, to usher the 46th Governing Board Meeting of the ASOSAI. Thank you, Mr. President, for honoring us yet again with your unfailing support and confidence. Fellow delegates, we are face to face with the icon of “Daang Matuwid” – “Straight Path” – no less than His Excellency, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, who has made good government, accountability and transparency, the cornerstones of his administration and his everyday way of life. As “watchdogs” of the Treasury, we at the Commission on Audit have only been too inspired - by his example, resolve and single mindedness - to give the best of ourselves in the performance of our duties and to grow each day in integrity, competence and professionalism. In this journey, Mr. President, the ASOSAI has been our constant source of guidance and continuous education. It is indeed very opportune that the current focus of ASOSAI is squarely on fours with our own priority agenda – dealing with fraud and corruption; environment auditing; citizen engagement; strengthening SAIs to be more institutionally effective and efficient agents of transparency and accountability in government. And we thank the ASOSAI for always including us in its programs and activities in furtherance of this agenda, and for holding the workshop on fraud and corruption in Manila last November. That the Governing Board has chosen to meet in Manila this year is therefore a most auspicious event, and we are humbled by the honor that ASOSAI has bestowed on us to host it. Let me assure you, dear colleagues, that whatever inspired your trust in us is but a reflection of the principled leadership of our most gracious Host this afternoon. More is yet to come in the next three days, and we hope you will bring home only pleasant and joyful memories. Allow me at this juncture, Your Excellency, to introduce the ASOSAI 46th Governing Board Meeting delegations and their respective heads: Office of The Comptroller and Auditor General of India - Mr. Vinod Rai, Comptroller and Auditor General Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea - Dr. Kun Yang, Chairman Office of The Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh - Mr. Mohammad Abul Kashem, Director General, National Audit Office of China - Mr. Kai Hou, Deputy Auditor General Audit Board of Japan - Mr. Seishi Tashiro, Deputy Auditor General, Audit Bureau of Jordan - Mr. Mustafa Moh’d Abdellatif Al-Barrari, President, National Audit Department of Malaysia - Mr. Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Ambrin Buang, Auditor General, Office of the Auditor General of Pakistan - Mr. Muhammad Ahktar Buland Rana, Auditor General, Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation - Mr. Sergey Vadimovich Stepashin, President General Auditing Bureau of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Mr. Osama J.I. Faquih, President Office of the Auditor General of Thailand - , Mdm. Prapee Angkinandana, Acting Auditor General, Turkish Court of Accounts - Mr. Hasan Fehmi Ezber, Chairman of the 6th Chamber, Office of the Auditor General of Brunei Darussalam - Mr. Pengiran Hajiabdul Rahman Mat Salleh, Auditor General, The INTOSAI Development Initiative - Mr. Magnus Borge, Director General And, of course, the Commission on Audit of the Philippines. Again, thank you, Mr. President, and welcome, Delegates. Mabuhay po tayong lahat! .