Talisay city former village councilor now market consultant

CEBU, Philippines - Exactly a year after he resigned as first councilor of barangay Pooc, Osmundo Manreal Jr. was appointed as Talisay City’s new consultant for market operations.

The city council yesterday approved a resolution for Manreal’s appointment, saying that for 10 years since 1987 as a market administrator, his “experience, expertise, and exposure will prove to be an asset that the City of Talisay may utilize for the betterment and improvement of the services to our constituents.”

The three minority councilors headed by Councilor Romeo Villarante were supposed to object to the appointment on the ground that it is “not the time” for additional consultants, but instead challenged Manreal to help the vendors at the Lagtang Public Market in their plight.

“We challenge him being recommended by the council to make some impact in the plight of vendors at Lagtang Public Market,” Villarante said.

Villarante and his fellow minority councilors Danny Caballero and Val Ylanan have been vocal in their support with the vendors since they were moved out of the Tabunok Public Market last August until their transfer in Lagtang where they still claim severe losses.

Villarante also said the city has about 10 consultants already each receiving about P18,000, and there have been no accomplishment reports by them being made.

He said majority of these consultants are either “has beens” or those who tried getting into politics but failed, or those former politicians who had already served their three terms but since they are no longer in public service the city government seems “obliged” to hire them as consultants.

For his part, Manreal, who was former Association of Barangay Councils chief, was elected first councilman of barangay Pooc in October 2010.

But even before he could take his oath of office, he moved with his wife to the USA and left his post vacant for several months, until on March last year he decided to tender his formal resignation. – (FREEMAN)