in addressing the specific disaster risk reduction and management needs of
Bayawan City.
19.6 Furthermore, the tasks designated to the CTTM consultant include:
19.6.1 Implementation of the tricycle ban on National Highways;
19.6.2 Implementation of the 2022 Traffic and Transportation Code of Bayawan
City;
19.6.3 Drafting of the Local Public Transport Route Plan;
19.6.4 Education Campaigns, seminars and workshops on national traffic laws and
local ordinances; and
19.6.5 Implementation of the Helmet law and other related laws at the identified
Traffic Discipline Zone.
19.7 The hiring of consultants for Disaster Risk Reduction and Transportation and
Traffic Management, despite the presence of designated city officials responsible
for these functions, raises concerns about the efficient use of public funds. This
practice may deplete public funds, which could be better used for essential
government programs and services. It also raises questions about the justification
for outsourcing tasks that in-house personnel could have effectively handled.
19.8 The engagement of such consultants, despite the presence of capable personnel
within the City Government, resulted in unnecessary expenditure of public funds,
contrary to the principles of efficiency, economy, and prudent fiscal management.
19.9 We recommended and Management agreed to assess the necessity of hiring
consultants, especially when their functions are available in the LGU, and
review the terms and contracts of each consultant to ensure that these are in
accordance with existing rules and regulations.
19.10 We further recommended and Management also agreed to cease entering
into consultancy services that overlap with the functions of its personnel to
prevent unnecessary expenditures.
19.11 Management assured the audit team that the DRRM Consultant possesses
advanced technical qualifications in geological hazard assessment and
Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, which complement the
LDRRMO’s capabilities. Moreover, they explained that the consultancy service
is time-bound rather than a permanent function redundancy.
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