CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Danny Caballero had asked the whereabouts of the blue guards, who were supposed to be detailed in and around the City Hall.
Caballero raised this issue when Mayor Johnny de los Reyes asked for the City Council’s approval of the fourth supplemental budget. The councilor countered that the Council approved the supplemental budget no. 2 last June, appropriating P4.5 million for the hiring of security guards, but he commented that still he could not see these blue guards manning the security of the City Hall.
Edgar Mabunay, city budget officer and the chairman of the bids and awards committee, told reporters there was bidding for the hiring of the guards.
There were four security agencies that showed up, but he said the process could not be completed until the Department of Labor and Employment-7 ordered for the increase of the salary of employees to P13. This prompted the bidders to withdraw their tenders, while making the adjustments.
Due to time constraints now, Mabunay told reporters there was an agreement to hire the blue guards next year instead. He added the budget appropriated for such is still intact and it will surely be included in the savings for the year 2015.
Caballero however urged Mabunay to appear in the Council session to shed light on the issue for the legislature to know where the government fund is going. —(FREEMAN)