JVR consultant put on hold

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City Council won’t act yet on the proposal submitted by the Bids and Awards Committee endorsing one Johnson Joy R. Pagusan as consultant for Mayor Johnny Delos Reyes.

Pagusan, who will allegedly help keep an eye on the pharmacy for indigents at city hall for six months, is the mayor’s daughter and the council clearly isn’t and has never been a big fan of nepotism.

Delos Reyes said the pharmacy will boost his government’s health care program by giving free medicine to the poorest of the poor, and at the same time save money.

Councilor Edward Alesna, chairman on the Committee on Appropriation, Budget Management and Ways Means, said his committee will consult the legal office on the nepotism issue.

Lawyer Alfredo Sipalay said he will issue a statement later.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) reminds public officials to strictly observe the rule on nepotism, which is a form of corruption that weakens morale and productivity in the public sector, promotes patronage politics, and breeds public distrust on government.”

The rule states “No appointment in the national, provincial, city or municipal governments or any branch or instrumentality thereof, including government owned or controlled corporations with original charters shall be made in favor of relative or the appointing or recommending authority, or of the chief of the bureau or office or of the person exercising immediate supervision over the appointee.”

“Unless otherwise provided by law, the word “relative” and the members of the family referred to are those related within the third degree either of consanguinity or of affinity,” CSC MC No. 40 clarifies.

The rule further stresses that “In the local government career service, the prohibition extends to the relatives of the appointing or recommending authority, within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.”

However, the nepotism rule exempts the following: persons employed in a confidential capacity, teachers, physicians, and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Moreover, according to the memorandum circular, “the nepotism rule covers all kinds of appointments whether original, promotional, transfer and re-employment regardless of status including casuals and contractual workers, except consultants.” (FREEMAN)