Cebu City to hire more consultants

Local

THE Cebu City Council is moving to hire more consultants.

During a recent regular session, the council approved a resolution filed by Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr., requesting Mayor Nestor Archival to authorize Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña and city councilors to engage outside experts for legal and policy advice.

“The City of Cebu, as a growing and progressive local government unit, is faced with numerous challenges on matters of law and legislation,” the resolution states. “These concerns necessitate innovative approaches which may be shared and imparted by a consultant.”

Alcover argued that hiring consultants has been a long-standing practice and assured that any appointments will follow qualification standards set by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Commission on Audit (COA).

He added that appropriations may be made for consultancy services, subject to the Bids and Awards Committee’s (BAC) review of credentials and procurement compliance.

The move, however, comes just months after COA flagged the city government for procedural lapses in its consultancy contracts.

In its 2024 audit report, COA found that City Hall engaged 122 consultants across various offices, including the mayor’s office, the legislative department, and the Cebu City Medical Center, amounting to P32.8 million. Of this amount, P7.7 million remains unpaid.

Auditors noted that P19.8 million worth of contracts suffered from missing documents and noncompliance with the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184).

Fourteen consultants were also hired for “vague and generic responsibilities” like “planning and coordination” at a cost of P3.9 million, which COA said could have been done by regular employees.

In addition, 87 contracts worth P17.3 million were signed only after services had already started, with P2.8 million released before contracts were validly executed.

“The timing of the contract signing is crucial for the contract’s effectivity as it marks the point at which the contract becomes legally binding,” COA stressed.

City officials previously defended the hires, citing the urgency of services. The BAC also vowed to tighten screening of qualifications and terminate or amend unjustifiable contracts.

Still, the council’s latest resolution maintains that consultants remain vital, especially in areas of complex lawmaking where additional expertise could “strengthen the council’s work.”

Under Ordinance 1031, the city is allowed to engage consultants on a part-time basis for social and policy matters.(TGP)