Carlo: Offer sounds like a bad joke to me

CEBU, Philippines - Former Mandaue City vice mayor Carlo Fortuna is hesitant to accept the contract of services being offered to him for the reason that the Bids and Awards Committee has recommended that he serve for only one month as the city government’s consultant for Assets and Properties. 

The recommendation forwarded by the committee to the city council states that Fortuna’s contract of services starts from December 1 and ends on December 31 this year, and will be paid P18,000. 

Fortuna said he won’t accept the position.

“I hope there’s a reasonable explanation for this because it surely sounds like a bad joke. They could have let it commence on the date of signing and end a year after or let it commence on January and end on December 2012 since I suppose there is no rush to this. This is how we usually do it before and how contracts are normally crafted,” Fortuna said in a text message.

In a separate interview with city administrator James Abadia, who is also the vice chairman of the BAC, he said he sees no issue over the one-month consultancy services of Fortuna. 

“Fortuna’s contract was submitted to the BAC only in November but the book of accounts closes by December. That’s the reason why the committee only recommended a one-month contract of service, Abadia said. 

Abadia said the contract can be renewed in January.

“Nganong next year pa man nato i-hire iyang services if he could assist the city now. For sure before the year ends, we could already use his services,” Abadia said. 

Earlier, a series of negotiations took place between Mayor Jonas Cortes and Fortuna, with the former egging Fortuna to serve the city as consultant despite their different political affiliations. (FREEMAN)