• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government is studying the proposed renewal of the contracts of service of 14 nurses and 12 midwives, as well as other personnel, of the Bacolod City government.
Committee chairperson, Councilor Al Victor Espino, accepted these proposed contracts during the SP regular session Nov. 15, adding there is need to ensure that the city has the budget for these workers.
Mayor Alfredo Benitez has asked the SP for authority to sign these contracts, and attached a certification from City Budget Officer Maria Imelda Williams, who said that about P2.5 million under the MOOE-Other Professional Services account of the City Health Office for 2023 is available to pay for these nurses until Dec. 31.
Each nurse “shall be paid a monthly rate of P36,619 as actual services to the City Government of Bacolod and a monthly hazard pay of 25 percent of the rate, or P9,154.75; the term of the contract shall be from Sept. 1, 2023 until Dec. 31, 2023”.
Williams also said that P1.27 million is likewise available to pay for the midwives, at a monthly rate of P21,211 each and hazard pay of P5,302.75 a month, from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31.
The COS of Jose Antonio Robello, covering Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, and that of Cristine Mansinares, for the last three months of this year, are also pending before the committee.
Mansinares, former regional director of the Department of Tourism in Western Visayas, has been engaged by the city since April as special adviser on tourism affairs.
Robello, meanwhile, “will advise the city mayor and make recommendations on matters related to traffic and transportation services…”. | CGC
