Council defers American’s contract

THE Cebu City Council deferred approval of the consultancy contract of an American citizen staying in Cebu using a balikbayan visa.

Councilor Edgar Labella sough referral of the consultancy contract of Oliver Echivarre to his committee on laws for study.

“We just want to be sure because the consultancy is charged to the city coffers,” said Labella.

In yesterday’s morning session, Councilor Leah Japson presented to the council a resolution authorizing Mayor Michael Rama to enter into a contract with Echivarre as consultant on systems and procedures under the mayor’s office.

If his consultancy contract is approved, he would be the city government’s 43rd consultant with a monthly P18,000 fee.

Japson’s resolution said Echivarre rendered service to the city government since January. His six-month consultancy ends this month.

Councilor Jose Daluz III said in an earlier interview that the city government authorizes consultants to render service even prior to the approval of their contract but “at their own risk.”

They cannot claim payment from the city government if their contracts are disapproved by the council.

During the same session, Councilor Margot Osmeña asked Echiverra about his citizenship.

Echiverra said he is a US citizen and a reserve of the US Armed Forces.

He said he returned to the country after his retirement in 2008 as aircraft maintenance specialist of the Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield in the US.

Echiverra said he would return to the US every year to visit his house there and settle his utility bills.

He said his application for dual citizenship had yet to be approved.

Councilor Osmeña said Echiverra should present to the council an accomplishment report of his work for the last five months.

Echiverra’s contract stipulated that he was expected to “give inputs, suggestions and render opinion on project proposals and the implementation of the city government’s programs and projects.”

He was tapped to “assist the office of the mayor and the entire city government in the formulation of systems and procedures that will pave the way for efficient, effective and fast delivery of services.”

Echiverra was also tasked to function as resource person in city-initiated seminars and workshops and to address matters endorsed by the mayor’s office. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac