by: Rose Ann B. Tubig, Supervising Administrative Officer (Finance Division)

In consonance with the DepEd thrust to continually strengthen the Financial Management Operation in order to address the gaps of achieving its optimum quality performance, the Department of Education, Regional Office V thru the Finance Division had conducted a 5- Day Virtual Training-Workshop on Financial Management System (FMS) last June 21-25, 2021 via Zoom App. A total of four hundred forty-eight (448) newly hired and newly promoted financial staff participants like school accountants, sr. bookkeepers, disbursing officers, administrative officers II handling Finance, cashiers, and school heads coming from the 13 Schools Division Offices and Implementing Units all over the Bicol Region participated in the said event.

During the 5-day virtual training, the participants were provided with learning tools and handouts as basis for their day-to-day financial transactions to promote better planning and maximum utilization of available resources. The topics discussed in the said activity were as follows: (1) Authority, Responsibility, and Accountability (AURA) for Government Funds; (2) Overview of the Budget Cycle, Processes & Functions; Application of Budget Preparation, Budget Execution and Budget Accountability; (3) National Govt Accounting System (NGAS)–It’s Principles and Procedures, Scope and Function, Agency Books of Accounts and Financial Statements; (4) Accounting for Receipts/Income Collections and Related Transactions; (5) Accounting for Disbursement and Related Transactions and Basic Tax Law, Computation and e-Tax Payment; (6) RA 9184 (Procurement Process) and its Rules and Regulations; (7) Basic Laws, Rules and Regulations on Government Expenditures (PS & MOOE); (8) PSIPOP, Omninus Rules on Leave and Other Personnel Matters; (9) Provident Fund; (10) Special Budget Request Requirements and Procedures; (11) e-FRS Application and Reports; (12) Financial Reporting & Timelines; (13) Overview of DepED Programs (K-12, ALS, etc.); (14) Ethical & Professional Standards and (15) Technical Writing –Communication Proficiency.

It is worth mentioning that during the pre-test and post-test given, notwithstanding the daily evaluation surveys, a very positive results and affirmative responses from the participants were achieved and noted. As well as all their financial issues and concerns after every topic were tackled and fully discussed.

Having realized a great impact of learning were attained by the participants in this 5-day virtual training-workshop amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the Region V Finance Team, headed by Ms. Teresa C. Arcayera, Chief Administrative Officer, assured the DepEd ROV Financial  Staff that they will continue to strategize and conduct this kind of training every year to capacitate and ensure that the operational procedures and financial reporting system are uniformly and strictly observed in conformity with the ISO 9001:2015 standards by all financial management practitioners in the Bicol Region.