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Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Hiring of only 1 couturier for CH uniforms draws flak
By Gingging A. Campaña
NO BIDDING was conducted for the purchase of new sets of uniforms for Cebu City Hall employees, as all department heads agreed to give each worker P2,000 as uniform allowance.
But there are now questions on how the uniform committee came to hire only one couturier, Dino Lloren of Banilad, Cebu City, to design and sew the uniforms.
While some employees complied with the committee’s directive to have their uniforms sewn by the official couturier, others opted to get their P2,000 uniform allowance from the payroll and have their own dressmakers sew the uniform.
Compliance
“I was told by our department head that we are not compelled to have our uniforms made by the dressmaker of the committee. Are they going to put me in jail for not going to their couturier?” said supply officer IV Ester Cubero.
But Cubero may have a hard time buying the official cloth for the uniforms because this can only be bought from Manila, according to the committee. The design cannot also be copied, as it is a property of Lloren.
Most young female employees complained of the approved color and design, and the policy that all those who are assigned in offices should wear a skirt two inches below the knee.
Lloren’s staff has been going around City Hall for three weeks now to take the measurements of each worker.
Wait and see
But some preferred to wait until Lloren finishes the first batch of uniforms to see if indeed this would be well made as assured by Acting City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva, who heads the uniform committee.
But Oliva said that as agreed by the uniform committee, City Hall employees are not allowed to get their own couturier.
“If we allow them that, it would defeat the purpose of having a uniform,” she said.
“We cannot please everybody with one design. Each employee, young, middle-aged and old, has different tastes but it’s already official. The color and design went through consultations and these were approved by all department heads,” Oliva said.
Oliva also dismissed allegations that Lloren is an associate. She said the designer merely walked into her office.
“I don’t know him from Adam but since he came over, we presented his ideas before the committee. We also inspected his dress shop in Banilad,” she explained.
Oliva and City Budget Officer Nelfa Briones learned that the couturier has been doing business for some time with big companies for uniforms and draperies.
Oliva and Anecita Alo of the department of manpower development and placement are in charge of the uniforms for women, while City Engineer Ruben dela Torre and General Services chief Rolando Ardosa take care of the men.
“They have to abide with the decision of the majority. I don’t care if there’s a uniform or not but it was a request coming from the employees kay maglibog kuno sila unsa napod ilang sul-obon sunod adlaw. So the mayor granted that request. If that project is realized, at least we will look better,” Oliva said.
(June 4, 2003 issue)
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