Another Rama consultant gets city council axe

ANOTHER consultant for Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was not renewed by the City Council.

Former councilor Edwin Jagmoc, consultant for the Department of Public Services and matters relating to barangay affairs, left the session hall frustrated after the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) dominated council refused the proposed renewal of his consultancy contract.

Jagmoc blames politics for the non-renewal of his contract.

Jagmoc is seeking election as north district councilor under Team Rama.

He is the second mayor’s consultant whom the city council refused to renew.

Legislators also didn’ t renew the contract of broadcaster Tony Avila, Rama’s media consultant because of the impression that he is using his city-paid radio program to defend and promote Rama.

They also deferred the consultancy contract of lawyer Jade Ponce, Rama’s consultant on environmental concerns, pending submission of additional documents from the mayor’s office.

Jagmoc, who’s paid P18, 000 per month rendered service to the city from January to June. He was supposed to have his consultancy contract from July to December renewed.

But the council did not act on his renewal by citing a policy that approval of consultancy contracts should only be done within a period of three months from start of service.

“It will not also be fair to abide by the council’s standing agreement if he has also done something for the city,” said Councilor Ronald Cuenco who backed Edgar Labella in pushing Jagmoc’s renewal as City Hall consultant. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters