Capitol to hire 13 consultants
A total of P2.2 million from this year’s annual budget has been earmarked for consultants’ wages
GOV. Hilario Davide III has been authorized by the Provincial Board (PB) to hire the 13 consultants of Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, with a monthly salary of P28,336 each.
The PB approved without any objection the resolution filed by PB Member Grecilda Sanchez authorizing the governor to hire the consultants.
The consultants include lawyer Maria Dolores Carfopora de la Serna-Unchuan, daughter of former governor Vicente “Tingting” de la Serna; Patria Aurora Roa, former Depart- ment of Tourism-Central Visayas director; and lawyer Anecita Pasaylo, who recently retired as PB secretary.
Sanchez said a total of P2.21 million from this year’s annual budget has been earmarked for the wages of the consultants.
Unchuan handles women and children issues under the Provincial Children and Women’s Commission (PCWC). Davide is the PCWC chairperson, with Magpale as the governor’s co-chair.
In 2014, PCWC and Unch- uan assisted in more than 200 women/children-related cases, and 150 of these were filed at the fiscal’s office.
Tourism projects
Roa, on the other hand, has been a staunch supporter of the Capitol’s tourism projects.
Pasaylo will handle local legislation and legal affairs.
During their session, PB Member Julian Daan asked presiding officer Magpale about the role of lawyer Manuel Climaco III, one of the consultants who has been tasked to handle issues on political affairs.
Magpale explained that most of the complaints investigated by the committee on complaints and investigation are political in nature. Examples of these complaints involved some mayors, vice mayors and councilors who are trading accusations with each other.
Sanchez, who co-chairs the committee on complaints and investigation along with PB Member Arleigh Sitoy, said the committee needs legal support in dealing with these complaints since these entail court procedures with a certain timeframe to follow.
She said that PB Member Peter John Calderon is the only lawyer-member of the committee, and that they need someone with a solid background in the Local Government Code and Department of Interior and Local Government guidelines.
Another consultant, Jesus Doque IV, who handles interlocal government review, was assigned to Toledo City and Talisay City Governments to help resolve budget problems, said Magpale.