City Hall consultants get council’s nod

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council yesterday has approved the appointment of 41 consultants to several offices at the City Hall covering the period from July 1 to December 31, 2013.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña who chairs the committee on budget and finance sponsored the resolutions.

Despite the approval, some council members questioned the disparity on the amount of remuneration between consultants for the mayor’s office and for the councilors.

Most consultants for the Office of the Mayor receive P18,000 while those for council members get P9,000 per month.

Osmeña explained that it has been the practice over the years in response to Councilor Eugenio Gabuya’s query as to who determines the amount.

She, however, could not recall when it started but stressed that the amount would still depend on the availability of funds.

Mayor Michael Rama has 23 consultants for the mayor’s office for the first six months of his second term.

They are Joseph Abellar for the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW); Rene Gregorio Bautista for People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) and Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises and Development (MSMED) Concerns; Ariel Dela Cruz for Structural Engineering of the DEPW; Angel Espiritu for Protocol and Consular Affairs; Librado Macaraya for Parks and Playground Commission; Nicanor Maglasang for Senior Citizens Concerns; Arsenio Pacana for Tourism and Heritage Concerns, and Religious Affairs; Ferdinand Pepito for Legal and Local Legislation.

Franklin Seno for Cebu City Hillyland Management Board; Jocelyn May Seno for Human Resource Development Office; Elvis Somosot for Music, Arts and Culture; Cerwin Eviota for Development Communication and Training; Teresito Misa for Radio Communication’s Repair and Maintenance, CITOM and Office of the Mayor; Dionisio Sy for Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC).

Crispin Torres for Geodetic Engineer for the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) and the Office of the Prevention, Restoration, Order Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE), formerly SPEED Office of the Mayor, Antonio Avila for Broadcast and Media Affairs.

Felix Abella on Environment Concern and Land Use Management Office; former mayor Alvin Garcia for Waterfront Development; former congressman, lawyer Antonio Cuenco for Sister Cities (Foreign and Domestic); Faith Ponte on Website Systems and Information Technology; and Ida Yting Scholarship Program.

All of them will get P18,000 a month but two consultants will receive lower remuneration like Lynn Gloria Madrona on Traffic Systems Management for Cebu City Traffic Operation Management (CITOM) with P15,000 as well as Bienvenido Jaban, Jr. receiving P8,000 as consultant for the Local School Board.

The consultants for the offices of city councilors include Jennie Aclan for Councilor Michael Ralota; Allan Orvien Geotina for Councilor Lea Japson; Waldemer Gravador for Councilor Alvin Arcilla; Edison John Arriola for Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias; Rengelle Pelayo, John Philip Po II, and Francis Oliverio for Councilor Margarita Osmena; Jose Glenn Capanas for Councilor Richard Osmena; Roselle Alqueza for Councilor Alvin Dizon; Godwin Denzil Maguinsay for Councilor Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao; Ireneo Hiyas for Councilor Sisinio Andales; and Ferdie Esperedion for Councilor Ma. Nida Cabrera.

More consultants hired for councilors’ offices include Kirk Bryan Repollo for Councilor Gerardo Carillo; Avenescio Piramide for Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos; Ricardo Pardillo for Councilor Nestor Archival; Lecel Llamedo for Gabuya; Rameses Victoruis Villagonzalo for Councilor Nendell Hanz Abella; Cynthia Barte for Councilor Dave Tumulak.

Former City Planning and Development Office casual employee turned consultant Niceforo Iroy only charged P1.00 for his consultancy to the office of the chairperson of the committee on Parks and Playground, Wildlife, Ecology and Environment of Cabrera and to the office of the chairperson of the committee on Urban Planning and Development of Wenceslao. —(FREEMAN)