TACLOBAN CITY- The members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, this city, deferred the request of Mayor Alfred Romualdez for him to be granted the authority to enter agreement with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on its livelihood assistance. According to the councilors, they would only accede to the request of the city mayor if he would provide them copies of contracts or agreements that he would enter with the DOLE whether involving cash or in kind. Romualdez had earlier sought for a resolution from the council members, dominated by opposition councilors, to allow him to enter into an agreement with the DOLE on its planned livelihood assistance in Tacloban. Councilor Jerry Uy, chairman of the committee on laws, emphasized during their regular session last October 2 that despite the fact that the city mayor can be given the authority to represent the city government to sign contract under its corporate powers provided by the Local Government Code, he has the responsibility to present the copy of contracts to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for them to effectively review the contracts and grant authority for him to enter contracts.
“Section 22 of the Local Government Code under corporate power provides that (a) Every local government unit, as a corporation, shall have the following powers: no. (5)To enter into contracts. And (c) Unless otherwise provided in this Code, no contract may be entered into by the local chief executive in behalf of the local government unit without prior authorization by the sanggunian concerned. A legible copy of such contract shall be posted at a conspicuous place in the provincial capitol or the city, municipal or barangay hall,” Uy said. Uy then motioned to ask the Mayor’s Office to transmit to the Sangguniang Panlungsod each and every contract of agreement that needs authorization as to grant authority to the mayor to enter into contract for and behalf of the city government of Tacloban as required by the Local Government Code.
Some members of the council expressed their concern as to the absence of the attached contract of the agreement.
Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin, presiding officer of the council, wanted to be clarified as to whether the chief executive is asking for a resolution to sign contract for the livelihood assistance provide by DOLE or is he was asking for a resolution for an authority to sign all contracts and agreements in the implementation of the said projects. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
