Baronda refutes claims of missing docs in CESPEDIC requests

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Iloilo City Vice Mayor Julie Grace “Love-Love” Baronda denied claims by City Hall that her office’s initial request for CESPEDIC contracts was delayed due to noncompliance, calling the released information “incorrect and misleading.”

A source close to the vice mayor’s office, who requested anonymity for lack of authority, told the Daily Guardian that the city government misrepresented the situation amid reports suggesting Baronda’s office delayed the submission of required documents for new personnel contracts.

City Administrator Melchor Tan said Wednesday that Baronda’s CESPEDIC request in October 2025 was signed by Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu after “all requirements were completed.”

“This shows that the process was conducted according to policy and not based on personality,” Tan said.

Tan added that on Dec. 12, 2025, Baronda requested a contract of service for two additional personnel.

However, Tan said the required documents were not yet complete, preventing the City Administrator’s Office from endorsing the contracts to the mayor.

He said the office sent multiple letters reminding Baronda’s office of the missing requirements.

The source countered that the vice mayor’s office had been sending letters to the Office of the Mayor as early as July 2025 but received no response until October.

The source said it was only after receiving confirmation that the vice mayor’s office submitted the remaining documents.

Letters obtained by the Daily Guardian show that Baronda submitted CESPEDIC contracts of service for six personnel to Mayor Treñas-Chu on July 31, indicating the staff began work on July 1.

A follow-up letter was sent Sept. 2 after receiving no response.

Another letter was sent Sept. 25, which the vice mayor’s office said was already its fourth formal follow-up.

“We respectfully emphasize that the timely approval of the submitted contracts is equally crucial to maintaining the smooth operations of the Legislative Department, particularly the Office of the Vice Mayor,” Baronda said in the letter.

“The letters dated July 31, 2025, Sept. 2, 2025, and Sept. 17, 2025 have not yet received any response from your good office,” she added, citing the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.

Section 9 of the law requires government offices to act on requests within three working days for simple transactions and seven working days for complex transactions.

“We earnestly appeal to your good office to kindly act on the requested documents at the soonest possible time,” Baronda said.

“We deem this as an urgent matter and would highly appreciate it if you can let us know if there is anything else we need to do on our end to expedite or facilitate this request,” she added.

The vice mayor also clarified that her office could not complete all documentary requirements without first receiving the contracts, which she said has been standard practice in previous administrations.

CESPEDIC, or the City Economic Enterprise and Development Office Information Center, processes contracts of service for personnel assigned to various city government offices and is subject to approval protocols involving the City Administrator and the mayor.