Tuesday, August 21, 2007 Rama says retaining contracts of consultants all up to Tomas
SUGGESTIONS and accomplishment reports of Cebu City Hall consultants will help the City Council review their performance, but it will be up to the executive department to terminate the services of non-performing consultants.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama yesterday took exception to radio commentaries that the legislative and executive departments have too many consultants.
Rama said they were hired for specific assignments and offices.
Rama has required consultants to submit suggestions on what policies and laws the City Council can pass to realize the executive and legislative agenda of the City.
Before approving their contracts of services, the requesting offices and the council evaluate their performance and scope of work.
The vice mayor explained that he asked the consultants to report to them suggestions on what the council can legislate so the City can maximize their services, for which they are being paid up to P18,000 a month.
“We just want to maximize their capabilities and what they can do for the City.
If we notice that they are not useful or they are not performing well, we will only assess and maybe recommend something but we will demand for the termination of their services. That will be up to the mayor,” Rama said in a phone interview.
Last month alone, the council approved the contracts of at least 40 consultants and training officers, including seven consultants under the Office of the Mayor and others who were hired as consultants to the city councilors.
Each of the 18 city councilors are allowed to have one consultant.
“That we have too many councilors has long been an issue, as early as 1990s, that was already an issue raised against us.
But they are there for a purpose, to help the City realize its executive and legislative agenda,” Rama added. (LCR)
