Director Merne Tesiorna-Peñaranda currently holds the position of Director IV. She assumed as Regional Director of COA Regional Office No. XIII on March 1, 2023. 

She was born in the First District of Manila on July 12, 1960 but she grew up in the beautiful Islands of Siargao. She was a consistent honor student in elementary and high school, recipient of university scholarships and graduated Cum Laude from the University of the East, Manila, with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Accounting. She has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and was a grantee of a scholarship from the Dutch government for a Postgraduate Course on Managerial Control and Management Information System at the Maastricht School of Management, The Netherlands, in 1998.

Director Peñaranda is a Certified Public Accountant. She rose from being Auditing Examiner III to where she is now and was given audit assignments alternatively in the Corporate, National and Local Government Sectors. She was also a member of the United Nations (UN) Pool of Auditors and among her notable UN audit assignments were the UNICEF Head Quarters in New York, U.S.A. and UNICEF Country Office in Pretoria, South Africa.

Director Peñaranda’s stint as the 9th Regional Director of COA Caraga is marked by several significant infrastructure accomplishments reflecting her proactive leadership and vision for the region’s growth and modernization. Among her notable accomplishments are as follows:

  • Securing a 5,000-Square Meter Lot – She facilitated the acquisition of a 5,000-square meter lot generously donated by the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte, which serves as a foundation for the Provincial Satellite Audit Office project in the Islands of Siargao.
  • Construction of a One-Storey Duplex Building for Quarters – The building provides dedicated living quarters for the of Regional Director and Assistant Regional Director, enhancing convenience and supporting continuity of leadership presence.
  • Senior Citizen and PWD-Friendly Comfort Rooms – She oversaw improvements for comfort rooms tailored to accommodate senior citizens and persons with disabilities, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity within COA Caraga facilities.
  • Power House Construction for PSAO Surigao del Sur – To improve energy reliability and support efficient operations, Director Peñaranda initiated the construction of a power house, boosting the infrastructure of PSAO Surigao del Sur.
  • Construction of a Two-Storey Storage/Records Building – This new facility serves as a suitable space for document storage and record keeping, that will enhance the security and organization of essential and confidential records of this Region.
  • Construction of a Two-Storey Dormitory Building – Facilitated the construction of a two-storey dormitory to provide accommodation for COA Caraga personnel, particularly those who traveled from distant locations or provinces, thus, indicating strong support for the welfare and convenience of concerned workforce.
  • Prioritization of Promotion and Hiring of Employees – Director Peñaranda ensures the prioritization of promotion of 138 permanent personnel, and hiring of 41 new employees, which significantly helped in the augmentation of personnel of COA Caraga.  

With the foregoing infrastructure projects and other substantial accomplishments, Director Peñaranda has pointedly elevated COA Caraga’s operational environment that clearly addressed the needs of the Region that have remained unadorned for nearly 20 years. Her accomplishments showcased her commitment to enhancing the facilities, improving accessibility, and creating a more supportive workplace for her team.

She is an independent, determined woman but beneath her mighty façade lies a very generous, beautiful soul – inside and out, with a heart of a compassionate mother that thinks solely what is good for the welfare and well-being of everyone, and stands firmly for unity and peace in this Region. Director Peñaranda is married to Mr. Jesse M. Peñaranda, from Surigao City. They are blessed with two sons, Jan Michael and Jan Philip, who are both successful in their chosen fields of profession, as a software developer/businessman, and a physician, respectively. Director Merne loves to travel, but she is happier spending her time whenever she is home in Surigao with her two doting grandchildren.