- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod finally agreed Wednesday, Oct. 12, to authorize Mayor Alfredo Benitez to sign the proposed consultancy agreements between the city government and the three Capitol executives.
The approval during the 15th regular session of the SP came following receipt of an opinion from City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr., and an authorization letter from Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, both dated Oct. 12.
Lacson said that “in the spirit of mutual cooperation between the province and the city, I am authorizing Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II, provincial administrator, as (city) consultant for administrative matters and systems review; Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, chief of the TLJHP (Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay), for health and hospital concerns; and Lucille Gelvolea, Economic Enterprise Development Department head, as consultant for special projects and economic affairs”.
“I believe that this will aid in the efficient delivery of basic services in Bacolod, and build a more harmonious relationship between the province and the city,” the governor said in his letter to Benitez, which was attached to the correspondence taken up by the SP as an addendum.
Ting, meanwhile, said the provision on “the signing of correspondences, replies and the like as one of the services to be provided by the consultants…has been removed from the updated agreement.”
Some members of the SP, in their session Sept. 29, questioned the “authority to sign correspondences” of the three Capitol executives, as per the proposed consultancy agreement.
Councilor Celia Flor said then that she’s not comfortable with the idea that consultants can sign correspondences, even at the behest of the mayor, as stated in Item 2, Letter C of the proposed agreement. It gives consultants the imprimatur to sign in behalf of the chief executive, she stressed.
Councilor Renecito Novero also then suggested that the SP seeks first the opinions of the CLO and the Civil Service Commission on the proposed consultancy deal, as he told his colleagues about CSC Resolution 021264, dated Sept. 27, 2002, on government employees accepting consultancy jobs.
Since the three Capitol officials have been allowed by Lacson to assist the city, Ting said that this complies with the CSC resolution, and recommended that Benitez be given the authority to sign the updated consultancy deal.
Benitez initially requested the SP for such authority during its Sept. 7 session./CGC
