The Department of Finance (DOF) has maintained that the contract of consultant Nicanor Gabunada Jr. is legal and aboveboard.

Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) head Undersecretary Gil Beltran said Gabunada was hired by the Department to “assist the DOF in developing brand and communications strategy for the DOF to aid in the swift passage of the remaining packages of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) plus other priority government measures and align system-wide communications covering the DOF and its attached agencies.”

He said nowhere in the contract does it say that Gabunada’s work would involve setting up social media platforms. His scope of work covers, among others, “assisting the DOF in the production and development of communications materials for television, print, and digital channels (social media and website), including the identification and coordination with third-party communications partners, whenever needed .…”

Beltran said Gabunada was tapped to help raise public awareness over, and support for, the Duterte administration’s remaining priority measures such as its pending economic bills and proposed capital market development reforms that are being pushed by the DOF in the third and final session of the 18th Congress.

Gabunada’s consultancy fee of P909, 122.40 for six months is reasonable for this type of highly technical service and complies with all procurement laws and rules, Beltran added.

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