THE Cebu provincial government will hire two new consultants for the vice governor’s office, one of whom will address the Provincial Board’s (PB) need to handle complaints submitted to one of their committees.
During its first out-of-town session in Bogo City Hall yesterday, the PB approved a resolution authorizing Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III to enter into a six-month consultancy contract with 13 persons.
Among these are “newcomers” Jesus Doque IV for Inter-Local Government Review and Manuel Climaco III for Political Affairs.
Climaco’s expertise was sought upon the request of the committee on complaints and investigations which, at present, needs additional lawyers.
Time frame
The committee, chaired by PB Member Arleigh Sitoy, is tasked to resolve administrative complaints of component cities and towns.
The committee is handling 21 cases from local government units (LGUs) in the province.
PB member Grecilda “Gigi” Sanchez-Zaballero, committee co-chairperson, said the committee needs help in dealing with the cases since these involve full-blown court procedures and a certain time frame to follow.
Sanchez said PB member Peter John Calderon is the only lawyer in the board who is part of the committee.
“We need to be guided accordingly and competently,” Sanchez pointed out during yesterday’s session discussion on the consultancy contracts.
She said the committee needs someone with a strong background on the Local Government Code and guidelines of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Allocation
Both Doque and Climaco were not present during yesterday’s session. Consultants, whose contracts were to be renewed and were present yesterday included lawyer Dara Acusar for Legal, Patricia Aurora Roa for Tourism Promotions, and lawyer Anecita Pasaylo, former PB Secretary, for Local Legislation and Legal Research, among others.
The Province allocated P17.2 million for consultants this year, an increase from P9.5 million last year.
The hiring of additional consultants contributed to the increase in the allocation, Sanchez said.
Figures for the amount of each contract were unavailable yesterday.
The PB also passed yesterday an ordinance instituting mechanisms for the Provincial Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program (PAHYDP).
PB member Miguel Antonio Magpale, the ordinance’s author, said the program will create avenues that cater to the health needs and concerns of youths ages 10 to 19.
“We have education and health aspects. We will be closely coordinating with the [Department of Health] and the [Population Commission] and the provincial health office,” he said.
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