The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) under the stewardship of its chief, Persida Rueda-Acosta, has emerged as the only attached agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that achieved a perfect score based on the 2025 Annual Agency Performance Review (AAPR) of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Overall, the DOJ obtained a score of 4.15 or very satisfactory, taking into consideration its financial and physical performance and timeliness and quality of the report submissions, according to DBM. Based on DBM documents, copies of which were obtained by The Manila Times, the justice department for fiscal year 2025 registered obligation and disbursement budget utilization rates of 85.59 percent and 86.69 percent, respectively. “The PAO consistently achieved 100 percent utilization across all parameters,” acting DBM Secretary Rolando Toledo said in a communication addressed to acting DOJ Secretary Frederick Vida. In 2024, PAO was also declared DBM’s top achiever for obtaining a perfect score of 5 for the same financial and physical performance review. Describing PAO in its AAPR report as ‘outstanding’ in its financial performance, the DBM said it (PAO) has ensured that set goals were carried out within the allocated timeframe and budget. On physical performance, the DBM likewise cited PAO for its almost 100 percent rating on alternative dispute resolutions and public attorneys’ perfect attendance in court hearings, among others. PAO has consistently met and exceeded its performance targets for these indicators, according to the same DBM report. Elated by DBM’s "remarkable rating," Rueda-Acosta said this would result “in a more effective, organized, and streamlined approach in rendering service to the Filipino people.” The chief public attorney reminds her co-officials, lawyers, and staff on the importance of integrity in the agency's expenditures as these funds were from the taxes of the hard-working ‘juan dela cruz.’ “It is a must that up until the last centavo is accounted for,” Rueda-Acosta said. Rueda-Acosta said the outstanding rating was not just the success of PAO but also the victory of all especially the indigents and underprivileged members of society. “For this is an implication that PAO is a well-performing government agency, both in the physical and financial performances, that banks on transparency and accountability,” she added. The AAPR report tracks how agencies use their allocated funds as it presents the results of the enhanced review, assessment, and evaluation of the annual performance of national government agencies, other executive offices, constitutional commissions as well as state universities and colleges. An autonomous government agency under Republic Act 9406 (PAO Law), PAO remains attached to the DOJ only for policy and program coordination, meaning, it has no direct control over the former, especially on its day-to-day operations.
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