KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato | October 2, 2025 – The Provincial Government of Cotabato conducted a benchmarking visit to South Cotabato to learn from its acclaimed Internal Audit Service (IAS), which has become a model for good governance in Region 12.
The visit focused on South Cotabato’s best practices in conducting internal audits and implementing the Baseline Assessment of Internal Control Systems (BAICS) across departments.
The benchmarking activity highlighted South Cotabato’s reputation as a favorite learning hub for local government units nationwide seeking to strengthen their internal auditing systems.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Renette B. Bergado extended her appreciation to the Cotabato delegation, emphasizing that South Cotabato’s achievements are rooted in a culture of accountability and teamwork.
“Good governance is a shared responsibility. We are glad to share our best practices so that more LGUs can replicate and sustain the same standards of integrity,” Bergado noted.
To date, South Cotabato has already audited the processes of 20 provincial departments, ensuring accountability and efficiency in local governance.
According to IAS Chief Grace Maniego, South Cotabato remains the only fully functional Internal Audit Service in Region 12, setting the standard for transparency and integrity in government operations.
“In 2024, our Internal Audit Service was recognized as a Silver Awardee under the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Report Card Survey (RCS) 2.0 program for 2024. That recognition affirmed that what we are doing here in South Cotabato can serve as a model for other provinces,” Maniego said.
The award places the province among the Top 5 national winners and stands out as the only provincial government in the list, a testament to its exemplary public service delivery.
The visit concluded with a knowledge-sharing and capacity-building session, strengthening inter-provincial collaboration in promoting efficient and transparent governance.
