The Association
The Government Association of Certified Public Accountants (GACPA) is the first sectoral association of CPAs in the country. It is an organization of accounting professionals who are working individually in various government agencies nationwide. It was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 18, 1972. Presently, GACPA may be the biggest sectoral organization of CPAs under the umbrella of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). It has about 10,000 members and 25 Chapters throughout the country.
The Beginnings
The birth of GACPA in 1972 was part of an overall plan to strengthen the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), which was founded fifty years earlier in 1923. As preparations were being made for the observance of the 50th Anniversary or Golden Jubilee of the accounting profession on the following year (1973), a Commission on Integration under the Board of Accountancy was created by a Presidential Proclamation. Said Commission was charged with the responsibility of mapping out the plans for the celebration.
The Commission realized that after more than four decades of existence, PICPA had in its rolls barely 20% of its potential membership. The Commission then decided to organize sectoral associations, which would be more effective in drawing CPAs into membership. It was widely recognized that by then, CPAs has drifted from the field of public accounting as originally conceived in the accountancy law creating the title “Certified Public Accountants” into allied fields such as private or management accounting, education and consultancy among others. CPAs in these fields were generally reluctant to join PICPA which was identified as open only for CPAs in public service.
Consequently, it was agreed to form CPA associations for those engaged in the major areas of accounting practice. To name: GACPA for those in government; ACPACI for those in commerce and industry; and, ACPAE for those in education.
The formation of ACPAPP for CPAs in Public practice was deferred as PICPA then could still serve the purpose.
GACPA was registered with the SEC by eleven Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) from various government agencies who initially comprised the Association’s Board of Directors. Soon, after the number of members of the board of Directors was increased from 11 to 15. These incorporators formed the first board of Directors and elected among themselves the charter officers, viz: Cecilio L. Dizon, COA, President; Luis P. Vera, OIC, Exec. Vice President; Leonardo L. Cabanero, BIR, VP-Internal Affairs; Nonilon S. Trajano, SSS, VP-External Affairs; Rosalina Cajucom, PNB, Secretary; Lourdes C. Reyes, DECS, Treasurer; Gervacio Obles, BPTWC, Auditor Trudon Abella, ASW, P.R.O.; Pascasio S. Banaria, COA, Director; Alberto Dominguez, COA, Director; Ernesto Gozar, COA, Director; Leon F. Guzman, DBP, Director; Hermogenes P. Pobre, DOJ, Director; Lourdes T. Sepidoza, CB, Director; and Angelina Tecson, DSW, Director.
GACPA's Objectives
GACPA’s objectives is to continuously uphold and promote the highest professional and ethical standards among CPAs in the Government Service through a healthy exchange of ideas and experience among themselves and their counterparts in the private sector.
It also aspires to foster good relation among members and develop, improve the accounting practice as well as enhance fiscal management and administration to benefit the members and ultimately the public, which they serve.
Together, the officer and members of GACPA will continue to forge productive undertakings for the attainment of the visions of the country.