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Monday, November 17, 2003
Tom O keeps 16 consultants on city matters
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña retained this year only 16 consultants who receive salaries of up to P18,000 monthly to help him perform his duties and functions at City Hall.
Records at the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) show that the contracts of services of four lawyers previously hired for the City Attorney’s Office and who were paid P15,000 every month were no longer renewed in 2003.
The city government is spending about P150,000 monthly for the salaries of the mayor’s consultants who include Rene Sanapo for the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and lawyer Raul Bitoon for league of cities concerns.
Both receive P18,000 per month. Osmeña sits as chairman of the national executive board of the League of Cities.
Upon recommendation of his transition team, Osmeña renewed the contracts of only 13 of the 45 consultants hired by the previous administration in order to cut on cost when he took over city hall in 2001.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the hiring of consultants does not require the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) approval.
However, Section 82 of the General Appropriations Act provides that consultants are hired to provide professional consultancy services that require highly specialized or technical expertise in a field of special knowledge or training.
They are not considered employees of the government and are not entitled to benefits granted to government workers.
Former Cebu City councilors Edgardo Labella, a lawyer, and Manuel Concepcion are Osmeña’s consultants on legislative affairs and the senior citizens’ office, respectively.
Urban poor leader Gerry Marquez is consultant on urban poor concerns while Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez of Pagtambayayong Foundation Inc. advises the mayor on local poverty reduction.
However, Maria Pino-Buanghug, president of the Cebu City United Vendors Association (CCUVA), has not been re-hired as consultant on vendors’ affairs.
The contract of Arturo Barrit, formerly consultant on environment and sustainable issues, was also not renewed after he was asked to resign early this year over allegations of bribery.
Pablo Tinga, who is paid P15,000 monthly, is consultant on revenue generation programs and activities while Juan Hernandez advises the mayor on realty tax collection.
William Miñoza heads the City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention and Librando Macaraya is under the Cebu City Parks and Playgrounds Commission. Both offices are under the mayor.
Policeman Hiram Benatiro is consultant on public safety, peace and order and law enforcement matters and receives P12,000 monthly.
Traffic board head Valeriano Avila and Bella Veloso, meanwhile, are consultants on markets and cooperatives and livelihood. Avila gets P15,000 while Veloso receives P9,000 every month. CYR
(November 17, 2003 issue)
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