BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved a resolution sending back to the City Mayor’s Office the proposed consultancy agreements between the city and four employees of the provincial government, along with the observations of Councilors Renecito Novero and Celia Flor on the matter.
Councilor Al Victor Espino yesterday said they will take up the proposed consultancy agreement in their next regular session pending the reply of the CMO.
The proposed consultancy agreement involves the services of Rayfrando Diaz ll as consultant for administrative matters and systems review, Valerie Anne Hollero as consultant for health insurance and health care, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral as consultant for health and hospital concerns, and Lucille Gelvolea as consultant for special projects and economic affairs.
Diaz is the current Provincial Administrator of Negros Occidental, Hollero the former regional director of PhilHealth, Maestral is the Chief of the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, and Gelvolea is connected with the Provincial Economic Development Investment Council.
During the deliberation on the request of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez for authority to sign the consultancy agreement, Novero cited Civil Service Commission Memorandum No.02-1264 dated September 27, 2002, which he said may have prescriptions and proscriptions that might affect the proposed agreement.
Novero said he has no question regarding the competence of the proposed consultants but his concern is on the legal and technical aspect of the agreement even if their services will be on a pro bono arrangement.
So he suggested that they first seek clarification from the CSC and the City Legal Office.
Espino said he and Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson are suggesting that a memorandum of agreement between the city and provincial government be signed to form bilateral relationships. This will be a historic first as there has never been a written agreement between the city and province for exchange of ideas and resources.
Sayson also suggested that they grant the mayor authority to sign because the agreement will still be returned to the SP for ratification.
Councilor Celia Flor said they should request the mayor to review item 2 of the agreement since she is not comfortable with the idea of having the proposed consultants signing correspondences even at the request of the chief executive in his behalf.
Flor said it somehow gives them the imprimatur that they are signing documents in behalf of the executive.*
