MMR, GAO AND CHAPTER VIRTUAL ANNUAL PLANNING CONFERENCE

About Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)

I. Vision

A responsive and globally relevant professional organization committed to service excellence towards its member and stakeholders.

II. Mission

To serve the best interest of the members and the stakeholders while promoting, upholding, and maintaining high standards in the accountancy profession and protecting public interest.

III. Core Values

Professional Excellence

We are committed to excellence in all aspects of our professional practice.

Integrity

We advocate the truth and conduct ourselves at all times with honesty, uprightness and adherence to sound moral principles, thereby gaining the respect of the public.

Commitment

We bind ourselves to uphold these ideals to ensure the accomplishment of PICPA's Vision and Mission.

Partnership and Teamwork

We uphold a strong bond of unity, working in the spirit of harmony and commonality.

Advocacy for Quality

We strictly adhere to the code of professional conduct adopted by PICPA to ensure highest spiritual, moral and ethical standards.

New Technologies and Innovativeness

We seek and apply new ideas to improve performance. We continuously promote creativity, flexibility and resourcefulness amidst constant change.

Social Responsibility

We commit ourselves to a strong, active and devoted sense of duty to society.

IV. History

The Philippine Institute of Certified Accountants or PICPA is the accredited professional organization (APO) of CPAs by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and has been awarded twice as PRC's most outstanding APO from among other professional organizations. PICPA was founded in November 1929 by a group of illustrious pioneers in the accounting profession: Enrique Caguiat, Santiago de la Cruz, Francisco Dalupan, Jaime Hernandez, Felipe Ollada, Ramon del Rosario, Antonio Sanchez, Jose Torres, Artemio Tulio, Clemente Uson and Jesus Zulueta. W. W. Larkin, holder of CPA Certificate No. 1, was its first president.

The group set forth the following objectives:

• To promote and maintain high professional and ethical standards among accountants;
• To advance the science of accounting;
• To develop and improve accountancy education;
• To encourage cordial relations among accountants, and
• To protect the Certificate of Certified Public Accountant granted by the Republic of the Philippines.

Over the years, PICPA has been sustaining its accreditation with PRC. The accreditation started on October 2, 1973, when PICPA was awarded Certificate of Accreditation No. 6 , by then PRC Chairman Eric Nubla, after having complied with the requirements for accreditation under Presidential Decree No. 223. This distinction, which recognized the Institute as the bonafide professional organization of CPAs, likewise gave PICPA the responsibility of setting into motion a scheme for the integration of all CPAs in the country.

Integration of the Accountancy Profession was carried out under Resolution No. 106 dated July 12, 1984 as amended by Resolution No. 142 dated March 4, 1987. In compliance with the said Resolution, PICPA revised its By-laws, and thereafter elected its new set of Board of Directors and Officers on December 2, 1988. With this event, then PRC Commissioner Julio B. Francia subsequently declared that all the conditions for integration had been fulfilled and thus, integration was already accomplished.

A further step was taken when the Accountancy Act of 2004 or Republic Act No. 9298 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations came into form. The law formally recognized the four sectors of the accountancy profession, namely Commerce and Industry, Public Practice, Government and Education / Academe and the four geographical groupings, namely, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and National Capital Region. Also implemented was the requirement with respect to Continuing Professional Education. In compliance with the new Law, PICPA amended its By-laws and changed its structure to give strength to the sectors and geographical areas.

Given recognition likewise are the Financial Reporting Standards Council (FRSC), formerly the Accounting Standards Council and the Auditing and Assurance Standards Council (AASC), formerly the Auditing Standards Practices Council as the official standard setting bodies of the profession. The Philippines adopts and follows the International Financial Reporting Standards / the International Accounting Standards, the International Standards of Auditing and the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants.

V. The PICPA Organization Structure

PICPA is a registered non-stock corporation with geographical divisions, regions and chapters all over the country. Geographical Areas, Regions and Chapters do not have juridical personality separate and distinct from each other or from the national office. The PICPA organization consists of the National Office (supported by a national secretariat), the geographical area, regions, the chapters and the general membership.

The National Office is under the management of officers elected by the members of the Board themselves; headed by the President, the Executive Vice President, the Vice President for Commerce and Industry, Education, Government and Public Practice, the Vice President for Operations, the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer. The composition of the Board are twenty one (21) from the nine (9) regions and four (4) from the sectors. Regional directors are elected regionally; four (4) from Metro Manila and two each from each of the remaining regions. Sectoral directors are voted nationally, one coming from each sector. The President is elected annually but rotated among the regional directors from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and to the extent practicable, among the four sectors of the profession.

The PICPA recognizes the four (4) sectors by which a CPA may be in practice: namely, Public Practice, Commerce and Industry, Education / Academe and Government. The PICPA endeavors to have equal sectoral representations in all its offices from the National Office to its chapters and affiliates. Each Regional Unit elects four (4) Regional Sectoral Representatives who are tasked with the professional development of each particular sector through participation in an accredited Continuing Professional Education program. The Geographical Area Office and Regional Councils are under uniform rules prescribed by the National Board of Directors.

Each of the nine (9) regions is governed by Regional Councils under uniform rules prescribed by the National Board of Directors consistent with the existing rules of the Professional Regulation Commission.

Each Geographical Area consists of Regions and each Region consists of Chapters, except Metro Manila or the National Capital Region which is designated as Geographical and Regional as well. Each Province or City may establish their respective chapter, except Metro Manila which is as already designated under the By Laws. It is the joint responsibility of both the National, the Geographical and the Regional officers to promote and assist in developing chapters. The regions and the respective chapter area coverage included under each geographical area are as follows:

1.   National Capital Region (Metro Manila) Geographical Area

a.   Northern Metro Manila Chapter

I.   Caloocan City

II.     Valenzuela City

III.    Navotas City

IV.    Malabon City

b.   Western Metro Manila Chapter

I.   Mandaluyong

II.   Manila

III.  San Juan City

c.   Eastern Metro Manila Chapters

I.   Marikina City

II.     Pasig City

III.    Quezon City

d.   Southern Metro Manila Chapter

I.   Las Piñas City

II.     Muntinlupa City

III.    Makati City

IV.    Parañaque City

V.     Pasay City

VI.    Pateros

VII.  Taguig City

2.   Luzon Geographical Area

a.   The Northern Luzon Region/Chapters

I.   Abra

II.     Baguio-Benguet

III.    Cagayan

IV.    Ifugao

V.     Ilocos Norte

VI.    Ilocos Sur

VII.  Isabela

VIII. Kalinga Apayao

IX.    La Union

X.   Mt. Province

XI.    Nueva Vizcaya

XII.  Pangasinan

XIII. Santiago City

XIV. and all the cities therein;

b.   The Central Luzon Region/Chapters

I.      Aurora

II.     Angeles City

III.  Bataan

IV.  BEPZ

V.   Bulacan

VI.  Cabanatuan City

VII.  Nueva Ecija

VIII. Olongapo

IX.  Pampanga

X.   Tarlac

XI.  Zambales

XII.  and all the cities therein;

c. The Southern Tagalog Region/Chapters

I.   Batangas

II.   Cavite

III.  IRRI/UPLB

IV.  Laguna

V.   Lipa City

VI.  Marinduque

VII.  Occidental Mindoro

VIII. Oriental Mindoro

IX.  Palawan

X.   Quezon

XI.  Rizal-outside of Metro Manila

XII.  Romblon

XIII. San Pablo City

XIV. and all the cities therein;

d. The Bicol Region/Chapters

I.      Albay

II.     Camarines Norte

III.  Camarines Sur

IV.  Catanduanes

V.   Masbate

VI.  Sorsogon

VII.  and all the cities therein;

3.   Visayas Geographical Area

a.   The Eastern Visayas Region/Chapters

I.      Biliran

II.     Bohol

III.  Calbayog City

IV.  Cebu

V.   Eastern Samar

VI.  Negros Oriental

VII.  Northern Samar

VIII. Ormoc City

IX.  Southern Leyte

X.   Tacloban City

XI.  Western Samar

XII.  and all the cities therein;

b.   The Western Visayas Region/Chapters

I.   Aklan

II.     Antique

III.  Capiz

IV.  Iloilo

V.  Negros Occidental

VI.  and all the cities therein;

4.   Mindanao Geographical Area

a.   The Northern Mindanao Region/Chapters

I.   Agusan del Sur

II.   Bukidnon

III.  Butuan/Agusan del Norte

IV.  Cagayan de Oro

V.   Iligan City/Lanao del Norte

VI.  Lanao del Sur-Marawi

VII.  Oroquieta City

VIII. Ozamiz City

IX.  Pagadian City

X.   Surigao del Norte

XI.  Surigao del Sur-Bislig

XII.  Surigao del Sur-Tandag

XIII. Zamboanga del Norte

XIV. Zamboanga Sibugay

XV.  and all the cities therein;

b.   The Southern Mindanao Region/Chapters

I.      Cotabato City

II.     Davao

III.  Davao del Norte/COMVAL

IV.  Davao del Sur

V.   Davao Oriental

VI.  South Cotabato

VII.  Sultan Kudarat

VIII. Zamboanga Basilan

IX.  and all the cities therein;

Each region, sector and chapter has their own respective governing council. Through the Regional and Sectoral Councils, both the sectors and the regions are represented in the National Board; the Chapters, on the other hand are represented in the Regional Councils through Chapter Presidents.

The National Office, the sectors and the regions are supported by committees which are formed to undertake specific activities. There is no specific limit as to the number of committees that can be established. The composition and responsibilities of the national, geographical, regional, sectoral offices are specified clearly in the existing PICPA By-Laws.

The National Office sets the overall directions and policies, and each sector identifies the specific professional needs and plans the current and future directions accordingly. At their respective levels, the regions and the chapters take care of implementing the Institute's policies and/or projects as determined or planned by the sectors. The committees provide the necessary services and support to undertake the planned activities or projects.

Affiliate units located in other countries are recognized after complying with the requirements of the National Office and upon approval of the National Board of Directors. List of International Affiliates/Chapters are as follows:

1.   Abu Dhabi, UAE

2.   Bahrain

3.   Brunei

4.   Calgary, Canada

5.   California

6.   Dubai, UAE

7.   East Coast, USA

8.   KSA Western Province-Jeddah

9.   KSA Central Province-Riyadh

10. KSA Eastern Province-Saudi

11. Los Angeles, CA

12. New York-Tristate

13. Papua New Guinea

14. Qatar

15. Saipan

16. Silicon Valley, USA

17. Vancouver, Canada

To recap, the National Office concentrates its efforts on general management, policy formulation, overall direction and coordination, consolidating financial reports, representation before government and other accounting bodies, and addressing national issues. Other that the Annual National Convention (ANC) and Annual Business Meeting, the National Office does not hold events requiring general membership attendance. The sectors, regions and chapters work with the members, since membership is directly attached to them. The functions of these offices determine the chain of command within PICPA and the proper protocol in handling issues.

VI. PICPA in the International Scene

Through PICPA, the country is actively represented in the world's major accounting bodies. Foremost among these international organizations is the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the broad objective of which is the development and enhancement of a well coordinated worldwide accountancy profession functioning under harmonized standards. Another organization is the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA), which seeks the development of a coordinated regional accounting profession with harmonized standards. Finally, there is the ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA), which strives to work together in a spirit of cooperation with the ASEAN region's varied groups, whose economic efforts may be complemented by the accountancy profession. PICPA had assumed the overall leadership of these organizations in a number of times and has been taking active roles in the pursuit of their respective goals. PICPA had also a significant part in the formative years of these organizations. Several conferences sponsored by these international bodies were held in the Philippines and led by high ranking PICPA officials; not to mention that as early as 1957, the First Far East Conference of Accountants initiated by PICPA and held in Manila brought forth the idea for the need of organizing internationally linked accounting bodies.



VII. Awards and Recognitions

A.  Outstanding Accredited Professional Organization (APO) Category A Awardee in 1995, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2019

This award is confered by the Professional Regulation Commission to give recognition to the achievements, service, and commitment to the profession by the Accredited Professional Organization (APO). PICPA bested forthy one (41) other professional organizations in achieving this award.

B.  Performance Governance System (PGS) Hall of Fame Awardee for bagging the following awards:

2008- Initiated Award

     Compliant Award

2009- Proficient Award

2016- PGS Intitutionaliation Award

     The Island of Good Governance Award

     Gold Trailblazer Award

The Performance Governance System (PGS) is a governance framework that utilizes a balanced scorecard to incorporate good governance, best practices and principles into the practice of different professions, with the ultimate goal of contributing to national development.

PICPA is now in the pursuit of achieving an international award, the Palladium Hall of Fame

VIII. Key Officers of PICPA

President:                  Lope L. Bato, Jr.

Executive Vice President:            Marydith C. Miguel

VP for Operations:            Gladeys Jill A. Santos

VP for Commerce & Industry:      Atty. Rheneir P. Mora

VP for Education:            Milagros C. Cardona

VP for Government:          Atty Roland C. Pondoc

VP for Public Practice:        Michael C. Gallego

Executive Director:           Estelita C. Aguirre