THE Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) earned a “QUALIFIED OPINION” audit rating from the Commission on Audit (COA) for its financial report for the fiscal year 2021, the Foundation’s highest since 2016, the Annual Audit Report dated May 31, 2022 revealed.

Under the helm of the then newly-installed Executive Director Gertie Duran-Batocabe, the NPF has improved its performance through strategic interventions, full implementation and compliance with the state auditors’ recommendations after the agency received a “Disclaimer of Audit Opinion” or no opinion over the financial statements was able to be determined in the past year.

The NPF has also made significant strides in addressing its fiscal challenges and is finally on its way to closing the gap in budget utilization. From a 56.86% obligation rate in 2020, the agency’s budget utilization is up at 90% in 2021.

In her speech during the agency’s Strategic Planning Workshop on Tuesday held at the Rizal Park Hotel in Manila, Duran-Batocabe acknowledged the efforts of her employees and said, “This honor is yours”.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, NPF, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), has been steadfast in its support of the National Government’s COVID-19 pandemic response while pursuing its mandate in promoting the Filipino identity and cultural heritage.

In June 2020, NPF opened its doors to host the 2-hectare Inter-Agency Task Force quarantine facility and in June 2021, the agency once again paved the way to accommodate the 10,000-square-meter mega vaccination site.

Amidst the unexpected challenges, the agency has not set aside pursuing its core mandates by strengthening its programs.

The NPF produced a Conceptual Master Plan that shall serve as a compendium of site information and planning tools that can be used for the development of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation Cultural Parks and Creative Hub.

NPF also spearheaded the Museo ng Nayong Pilipino – Virtual Museum Project, a quarterly digital exhibition showcasing the various ethnographic categories in the NPF Collection.

Likewise, the agency conducted its first virtual Research Summit in August 2021, gathering several experts from different disciplines and attended by students from various universities and Local Government Units.

NPF’s Cultural Leadership Institute was further amplified through the implementation of the MakaNayon Leadership Course, a seminar for cultural and/or tourism frontline workers. The 5-module interactive courses were recently vetted and shall serve as a resource material for a more cumulative capacity building which may be utilized by the DOT, its attached agencies, and other allied government institutions.

Duran-Batocabe expressed her personal and profound appreciation for her mentors, Atty. Guiller Asido and Atty. Vincent Cańares of the Intramuros Administration, DOT Undersecretary Edwin Enrile, and Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

“I am thankful for the guidance they have given me in steering this agency to greater opportunities and assistance every step of the way,” she said.

“There is still much to be done, but to quote our honorable Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat “we hope to leave it better,” she added.