- BERT BAYORAN
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez Friday defended the decision to avail of the consultancy services of three provincial government executives, stressing that “it has no cost to the city government or on pro bono basis”.
“Since Day 1, the provincial government has been continuously helping us, especially Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, who is helping us in the health programs and the opening of the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital for Bacolodnons, and Lucille Gelvolea for economic plans and programs of the city government,” Benitez said.
The free consultancy services of the three Capitol executives, he said, is not something that will trigger changes, but more of “recognizing their assistance and formalizing their help to the city government.”
Diaz earlier said that Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson already approved their pro bono consultancy services to the local government of Bacolod.
Aside from the three Capitol executives, Benitez also tapped the pro bono services of Atty. Valerie Ann Hollero, for health care and insurance programs.
Benitez said he expects that the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod will act favorably on his request during its regular session next week.
Asked if the three Capitol executives will “step over a few functions” in the city government, Benitez said “they are merely consultants, it is not that they will be given line functions.”
“It’s more of an advisory function, as they are also busy with their work at the Capitol. We are formalizing their arrangements so that the people will not wonder why they are in the city,” he said.
The systems successfully implemented by the provincial government, like the ease of doing business and digitalization, will be shared with Bacolod City without charge, Diaz earlier said.
He added that the provincial government will also share its 911 services with Bacolod./GB
