Thursday, January 31, 2008 Lack of detailed report delays approval
THE Cebu City Council yesterday told a consultant of Mayor Tomas Osmeña to submit “specific accomplishments” instead of “generic” achievements, as it deferred approval of the measure for his contract.
In their session yesterday, Councilor Jose Daluz III asked that the body authorize Osmeña to sign Pablo Tinga’s consultancy contract from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2008, with a monthly honorarium of P15,841.
Tinga is consultant on revenue program and activities, local taxation and tax cases, economic enterprise and services under the office of the mayor.
But Councilor Leah Japson questioned why Tinga attached a July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006 summary of accomplishment instead of for the same period in 2007.
And though Tinga was present, the City Council did not ask him why and instead deferred approving Daluz’s resolution until Tinga submits a 2007 report.
Explanation
Tinga could have explained whether he simply picked a report he made in 2006 and attached it, or that what happened was just due to typographical error, which Japson wondered aloud.
But Councilor Gerardo Carillo also asked that Tinga make a detailed report instead of generic statements like “preparing veto messages.”
Among other accomplishments, Tinga said he attended department heads monthly meetings and task force for real property weekly meeting, “writing for the mayor and the city administrator some letters and endorsements,” and assisted city residents in preparing letters and legal documents.
Dr. Librado Macaraya, Cebu City Parks and Playground Commission consultant, also had his contract renewal deferred, but for a different reason.
Increase
Vice Mayor Michael Rama wanted that instead of just P15,000 as monthly honorarium, it should be increased to P18,000, the maximum amount that the council could give.
“Because he is a hands-on consultant. He is practically over and everywhere, and I want justice done,” he said.
Rama said Macaraya is diligent and reliable and should be properly compensated.
The council would have readily agreed if not for a reminder by Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. that changing the amount would require Osmeña’s approval and endorsement by the Bids and Awards Committee.
That prompted the council to just defer approving the resolution until such time that the BAC endorsement is secured, but it dispensed with its requirement of having consultants show up when their contracts are up for renewal by the city council.
Meanwhile, renewal of the contracts of in-house investigator Orlando Secretario and law enforcement and firearm maintenance consultant Mario Abangan Sr. were also deferred because they were absent during the session. (RHM)
