Plan to privatize maintenance of Tacloban streetlights questioned

MEMBERS of the City Council of Tacloban are asking the City Hall why they are planning to privatize the operation of maintenance of streetlights in the city.

In their session this week, Councilors Jerry Yaokasin, Jerry Uy and Bianco Mate, had questioned this action of the City Hall citing that there should be a prior feasibility study, if other local government units had been implementing such kind of agreement and stressed that the copy of the TOA must be provided to them before they approve it.

“No agreement, draft contract, recommendation paper, studies or whatever paper was shown to us for our perusal,” Councilor Uy said. “How can we effectively discuss or deliberate on this matter without any documents?”

This case had been going on in the City Council of Tacloban since the start of their term.

Privatization or outsourcing of office work is good as other big companies are already doing it, Councilor Yaokasin said, adding that the problem is this plan of the City Government seems not studied well.

“People might ask if who will take care if problem like, barangay will request for additional street light, who will install them, this question should be provided in the Term of Agreement,” said Yaokasin.

He added that there should be an inventory if how many streetlights in the city and how many are to be covered by these privatization.

Councilor Mate asked the main proponent of the resolution when it was tackled at city council if there was a feasibility study made before it is to be implemented in the city.

With this objection from members of the City Council, majority floor leader and the main proponent of said resolution Edwin Chua withdrew his motion and promised the City Council to provide first the copy of the TOA. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)