Atty. Diaz on non-approval of consultancy at city gov’t

“Mayor Albee Benitez will take care of it.”

This was the reaction of Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, Negros Occidental provincial administrator, after the Sanggunian Panlungsod of Bacolod City did not approve the request of Benitez for the consultancy agreement with three Provincial Capitol executives.

“Let us be patient. He knows what he is doing,” Diaz said, adding that he hopes “that our allies will help with the wishes of our mayor.”

The possibility of forging an MOU between the city government and provincial government “rests in the wisdom of the governor and the mayor.”

“It’s an executive prerogative and not at the level of the councilors to propose. Unless its approve by Mayor Albee and approved by the SP,” he added.

He also confirmed that Benitez will resubmit his request for approval of the consultancy agreement of the three executives of the Capitol to the SP for approval.

In a separate interview at the New Government Center, the Bacolod mayor said that his working relationship with the governor “goes beyond any documentation. The trust between us is beyond any formalities.”

During its session yesterday, Sept. 14, the SP only the proposed consultancy between the Bacolod City government and Atty. Valerie Ann Hollero, for health insurance and healthcare, was approved.

Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government, said that this is because it is only Hollero who is not a current employee of another local government unit.

Hollero used to be the vice president of PhilHealth in Western Visayas.

Aside from Diaz, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral – chief of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay, and Lucille Gelvolea, who is the provincial investment officer were recommended as consultants of the mayor.

Espino said they decided to come up with a memorandum of understanding that would institutionalize the bilateral relations between the highly-urbanized Bacolod and Negros Occidental.

He said the MOU would include other areas of cooperation, and not just limited to the consultancy services initially sought with the three Capitol officials.

The proposed consultancy agreement with Diaz was for administrative matters and systems review, Maestral on health and hospital concerns, and Gelvolea as the supposed consultant for special projects and economic affairs.* (EYA)