BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday approved a resolution granting Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez authority to sign the consultancy agreements between the city and three employees of the Negros Occidental provincial government.
The SP had earlier authorized the mayor to sign the consultancy agreement of former PhilHealth regional director Valerie Anne Hollero – as consultant for health insurance and health care.
However, it sent back to the City Mayor’s Office the proposed consultancy agreements of three employees of the provincial government, with the observations of Councilors Renecito Novero and Celia Flor on certain provisions of the agreement.
Councilor Al Victor Espino said the City Legal Office issued Legal Opinion-22-172 addressing their concerns particularly the specific provision raised by the SP (pertaining to the signing of correspondence, replies, etc., which had been removed from the updated agreement).
The consultancy agreement approved by the SP yesterday involved the services of Rayfrando Diaz ll as consultant for administrative matters and systems review, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral – as consultant for health and hospital concerns, and Lucille Gelvolea – as consultant for special projects and economic affairs.
City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting, in his legal opinion dated Oct. 12, noted that the three consultants have appropriate authority from their head of agency to practice their profession by complying with Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 021264 dated September 27, and recommended that the mayor should enter into such an agreement.
Diaz is the current Provincial Administrator of Negros Occidental, Maestral is the Chief of Hospital of the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City and Gelvolea is connected with the Provincial Economic Development Investment Council.*
