THE Negros Occidental Provincial Government renewed the contract of its 11 consultants.
The Provincial Board approved Wednesday the request of Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. for authority to sign the consultancy agreement to be entered into by the province and its 11 consultants from January 1 to December 31 this year.
They are former governor Rafael Coscolluela (investment promotions, trade and export development coordination), Roy Balicas (finance and administrative), Merlita Caelian (tax administration), Nestor Bayona (community development and special projects and other related tasks), and Marilyn Manuel (research and development and allied concerns).
Also renewed as consultants of the Capitol are Leoncio Jamora Jr. (vocational, technical, engineering education and other related tasks), Manuel Lopez (energy management and other allied concerns), Rosemary Caunca (local governance and inter-local government alliance for agricultural productivity), Nancy Pestaño (tourism), Felix Silva Jr. (housing projects), and Ma. Asuncion Belzunce (cultural arts).
Second District Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr., chairman of committee on appropriations, budget, finance, ways and means, said the renewal of the consultants’ contract is done every year.
He said the salary rate of the Capitol consultants varies, depending on the work required by the governor.
The highest salary rate is P67,000 per month while the lowest is P33,000.
Coscolluela has the highest pay, the board member said.
Escalante said that Coscolluela is like a “diplomat” of the province.
“He is being sent to other places to represent the province,” he added.