The Government Association of Certified Public Accountants (GACPA) has a new national president for 2022-2023 in the person of Elizabeth T. Eala, chief administrative officer of the UPLB Cashier’s Office.

GACPA is an association of CPAs who are working in government agencies in the country. It is one of the biggest organizations of CPAs in the country and was established 50 years ago.

Eala took her oath for the said position on July 21 via virtual conferencing before Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr., who also served as the keynote speaker in the association’s simultaneous celebration of Accountancy Week. Joining Chancellor Camacho and Eala are the new GACPA board of directors.

“We acknowledge the role of the GACPA in guiding and mentoring our nation’s CPAs – holding its members up to the highest ethical and professional standards; promoting best practices and knowledge sharing; and fostering positive relationships among its members,” Chancellor Camacho said.  

“In this way, GACPA has contributed significantly to the growth and dynamism of the Philippine accounting profession,” he concluded.

In her acceptance message, Eala said that her new post means having the responsibility to give strategic direction and administration to GACPA. “It also means investing time and effort to keep up with the plans and programs, as well as being visible in the many events that would require my presence,” she added.

Under her term, Eala said that GACPA will pursue projects and plans anchored on developing and strengthening its partnerships with other CPA organizations; upscaling the professional development of government CPAs; supporting capacity-building activities; and valuing membership services.

Eala has been an active officer of GACPA. She was its executive vice president, vice president for internal affairs, secretary, treasurer, and auditor, among others, in the past years.

She is also active in the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), having been the President of its International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)-UPLB Chapter in 2008-2009, and its National Regional Sectoral Representative for Government in 2011-2012.

Eala is not only a CPA, but also a holder of a Master in Business Administration (MBA) and an accounting educator.

She earned her MBA from Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba, and her BS Commerce (Major in Accounting) from San Pablo Colleges. She previously worked as an instructor in these two private colleges. Currently, she teaches accounting at the UPLB College of Economics and Management as a senior lecturer, and is a member of the UPLB Ad Hoc Committee for BS Accountancy Proposal. She finished her secondary education at the UP Rural High School.

Prior to serving as the chief cashier of UPLB, Eala held managerial positions at the Laguna Water District. (Mark Jayson E. Gloria)