Contract renewal for 6 Talisay City consultants shelved

CEBU, Philippines – The Talisay City Council yesterday deferred the renewal of contracts for six City Hall consultants.

Bids and Awards Committee, chaired by City Administrator John Yre de los Reyes, submitted the consultants' names before the City Council for approval to renew their contracts.

The list included pharmacist Johnson Joy De los Reyes-Pagunsan, the daughter of Mayor Johnny de los Reyes, as consultant of the city's Indigent Pharmacy program; Ireneo Morales as consultant on Human Resource Development; Ulysses Julia as consultant on barangay affairs; Lolita Ylaya as consultant on social services; former ABC president Charles Basillote as consultant on political affairs and Jeremias Condez as consultant on inter-city sisterhood program.

However, Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, the council presiding officer, made a motion asking consultants to submit their accomplishment reports.

Villarante clarified that he is not against the renewal of the consultants but "the consultants are expected to render and submit an accomplishment report on next Tuesday's regular session."

Also, the council did not question the renewal of Pagunsan after Pagunsan's appointment was held for almost one month over the issue of nepotism.

The City Legal Office said her appointment does not violate the law against nepotism since Pagunsan's services are co-terminus with her father's.

The City Legal Office cited that "the nepotism rule covers all kinds of appointments whether original, promotional, transfer and re-employment regardless of status including casuals and contractual, except consultants."