Rama dads to COA: Check CH consultants

Councilors from the Barug Team Rama bloc have urged the Commission on Audit to look into the Cebu City government’s alleged failure to comply with the requirements in hiring consultants.

Councilor Joel Garganera said he has qualms on the way consultants of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan officials follow certain bidding rules.

Garganera recently obtained a copy of the requisites in the procurement of consultancy services from Bids and Awards Committee infrastructure and consulting services head lawyer Evangeline Abatayo. The requirements include a letter-request approved by the head of the procuring entity, which is the city mayor's office; registration with the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS); and results of the consultant candidates' emotional and intelligent quotient exams from any accredited testing center.

“I challenge all the consultants there if naaccredit ba sila sa PhilGEPS, as well as whether naa ba sila's IQ or EQ results,” Garganera said.

He encouraged the COA to check the practice because Barug Team Rama councilors, he said, are faithfully complying with the requirements. It's unfair, he added, if Osmeña and other officials close to him are not observing the rules.

“COA should look into this. For sure they are not in compliance with the requirements set by BAC,” Garganera said.

Last Tuesday, the City Council asked Osmeña to review the contracts the city entered with consultants to ensure that these are consistent with the law.

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, also of Barug Team Rama, said he was also sure that some of the mayor's consultants did not undergo the proper hiring procedure.

“I challenge them to produce kini nga mga documents. Ang kapait, kung kami ang mangayo og consultants, pangayoan mi og ingon ani. Kung ang ilaha lusot ra,” Garcia said.

He reiterated his previous stance that the mayor is being selective in implementing the law. He said the mayor would defy the rules for the sake of those who are affiliated to him.

“Mao na akong pasabot, ang enforcement is selective. Sa ilaha okay ra to break the law, sa amo dili,” Garcia said.

Councilors Eduardo Rama Jr. and Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr., for their part, said the mayor would often ignore the requests of the councilors who are not under the same party as him.

“Kining mayora, madinumtanon gyud. Dili siya fair. Kwarta man na sa katawhan, and we need to hire consultants to serve the people well. Kanang mayora lisod gyud,” he said.

To recall, Osmeña denied the requests of Garganera, Garcia, and Alcover to hire consultants, saying these councilors are going against him, especially in the implementation of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project.

The mayor, on the other hand, approved the hiring of consultants of Councilors Jose Daluz III and Rama because they voted in favor of the passage of the resolution expressing support to the BRT.

Interviewed separately, Osmeña admitted that he just learned about BAC requirements recently but he pointed out that he would fire immediately those consultants who are not doing their jobs efficiently.

“They (Rama councilors) are entitled to question. I cannot comment on what they are saying because they don't understand it completely. They are nitpicking, nangita lang sila og sala ba,” Osmeña said.