COA Commissioner Mario Lipana (Screengrab from CA virtual confirmation hearing) MANILA - The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday gave the green light to the appointment of Mario Lipana as a commissioner of the Commission on Audit (COA). Prior to the CA's plenary session, Lipana, who has been with the state audit body for nearly four decades, got endorsements from a number of lawmakers, including Senators Cynthia Villar and Joel VIllanueva, who attested to his competence and qualifications. Lipana, a native of San Ildefonso, Bulacan vowed "effective and innovative solutions to the challenges of the pandemic" to the COA. He will serve as COA Commissioner until Feb. 2, 2027, replacing Commissioner Jose Fabia whose term ended in February 2020. Lipana has been serving as officer in charge-director of the COA Region 4-A (Calabarzon) and concurrent head of the COA's Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Office. During the committee hearings, Senators Franklin Dri