■ GOVERNOR SEEKS AUTHORITY TO HIRE A DOZEN CONSULTANTS

The Capitol will hire 12 consultants who will advise Gov. Hilario Davide III and various departments. They include a former Provincial Board (PB) member, a retired tourism department regional director, and the daughter of a former Cebu governor. Davide said in a press conference that he signed the contracts and forwarded these to the PB. If the PB authorizes him to sign the contracts, these will be good from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2017. The 12 consultants are: Ruben Almendras for trade and investment promotions; Dara Acusar, legal; Magnificus Cresenciano Cañete, legislative matters; Manuel Climaco III, political affairs; Evangelene de Paula, executive and administrative management development; Jesus Doque IV, inter-local government review; Jose Pierre Lianto, social services; Grecilda Sanchez, barangay affairs; Anecita Pasaylo, local legislation and legal research; Patria Aurora Roa, tourism promotions; Maria Dolores Carfopora De la Serna-Unchuan, women and children; and Libia Chavez, livelihood administration. Almendras is the president of the International Finance Corp. and brother of Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale. Sanchez is a former PB member, while Roa is a retired Department of Tourism 7 director. Unchuan is the daughter of former Cebu governor Vicente de la Serna (1992-1995). Governor Davide said each of the consultants will give him advice on matters related to their expertise.