- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod Thursday decided to return to the Office of Mayor Alfredo Benitez the proposed consultancy agreements he wants with three Capitol executives, following questions on the supposed “authority to sign correspondences” of the consultants.
The SP tackled anew the request of Benitez for authority to enter into agreements with Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II, the current administrator of the provincial government of Negros Occidental, as consultant for administrative matters and systems review; Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, chief of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay, for health and hospital concerns; and Lucille Gelvolea, the provincial investment officer, as consultant for special projects and economic affairs.
Councilor Celia Flor said she is 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, Flor stressed.
Councilor Renecito Novero also suggested that the SP seeks first the opinions of the City Legal Office and the Civil Service Commission on the proposed consultancy deal.
He told his colleagues during their regular session Thursday of CSC Resolution 021264 dated Sept. 27, 2002 on government employees accepting consultancy jobs.
He said that while he does not question the competencies of the three Capitol executives, it will be better if the SP seeks clarification on the legal and technical considerations of the consultancy agreement.
“It will be more helpful than harmful” if the SP seeks clarification from the CSC, said Novero, who is the lone lawyer by profession in the sanggunian. He said he is duty-bound as a lawyer to point out possible legal issues, considering that this is the first time that the city will enter into consultancy agreements with officials of another local government unit.
During its session Sept. 14, the SP only approved the city’s consultancy agreement with Atty. Valerie Ann Hollero, for health insurance and healthcare.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the SP Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government, said it is only Hollero who is not a current employee of another LGU, as she used to be with PhilHealth in Western Visayas.
Espino said a memorandum of understanding could be entered into by Bacolod and Negros Occidental, for wider and institutionalized bilateral relations and could include other areas of cooperation, and not just limited to the consultancy services sought with the three Capitol officials.
But Benitez said in a previous press conference that he has a very good working relationship with the province and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, and it does not require any formality. The former was provincial consultant on economic affairs before the May 9 elections.
The relationship between Bacolod and Negros Occidental now goes beyond documentation or need for formalities, the mayor had stressed. “It’s not necessary to put it on paper.”
Benitez insisted on the proposed consultancy and said he will resubmit his proposal to the SP, adding that Lacson also gave his permission to the three Capitol executives to offer their services to Bacolod pro bono./CGC
