Carbon: No government subsidies are provided

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

In response to a resolution passed by the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) last May requesting an explanation for proposed rate hikes by the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa), general manager, Atty. Juliana Carbon, provided a letter to Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran explaining why rates for the first 10 cubic meters increased from P208 to P248.

In the letter, she explained, “The district needs [a] huge amount of capitalization to address the problem [with] water supply shortage, reduction of non-revenue water, pipeline replacement, and expansion of distribution lines.”

The general manager quoted the cost at P1.9 billion over a 10-year period.

She also said Baciwa does not receive government subsidies and said operations are “100 percent financed through the internally generated funds.”

Carbon also cited wage hikes due to salary standardization, inflation, and increased commodity prices.

The legislation, penned by Bacolod City Councilor Wilson Gamboa, Jr., called upon Carbon and Board Chairman Lorendo Dilag to provide clarification.

The resolution noted, the request is being made in the name of “transparency, accountability, recognition of the power of information, and the valued participation of the citizens.”

According to earlier reports, the increase was being proposed as part of a “new project.”/DGB, WDJ