By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
A petition letter opposing the proposed joint venture between the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation was forwarded yesterday to Baciwa Board of Directors chairperson, Atty. Lorendo Dilag, and the Baciwa board of directors.
The letter claimed Baciwa consumers and various multi-sectoral organizations vehemently oppose the joint venture, noting, “The manifestation is being done without proper consultations from 54,000 Baciwa consumers.”
They asserted, the board’s decision on the issue was “arbitrary” and “done surreptitiously without the benefit of sufficient consultation with the Baciwa stakeholders.”
The letter also claimed the proposal is a violation of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. They cited Section 7, Article III of the Bill of Rights, which states, “The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized.”
They added, “The full disclosure policy covers all transactions involving public interest and Baciwa is imbued with public interest.”
“Water is life,” they added. “Consumers have the right to information on [matters] of public concern, in consonance with the principle of popular sovereignty.”
Last week, the Diocese of Bacolod Social Action Center (SAC) forwarded a letter to the office of Bacolod City Councilor Dindo Ramos asking him to conduct a hearing over the proposed joint venture.
SAC head, Rev. Fr. Chris Gonzales, said consumers have the right to full disclosure on any move or plan that Baciwa undertakes, including projects regarding bulk water aimed at delivering water efficiently.
Ramos, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Energy, said the hearing may be conducted between January 31 and February 1, adding, he wants to hear from both sides before taking a position./DGB, WDJ