Sancho: Letters sent to the Baciwa Board of Directors went ignored
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Local labor group, the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA), reiterated their opposition to the proposed 25-year joint venture proposed by the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation. They also called the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), along with the local utility firm, “deaf” for not listening to their arguments.
During a recent radio interview, GAWA Secretary-General Wennie Sancho said they have repeatedly sent letters to the Baciwa Board of Directors but they were repeatedly ignored.
While acknowledging the two public hearings held on the matter, he pointed out, the Baciwa board failed to attend.
Sancho added, their organization is only seeking clarification on detail, expressing fears the joint venture “looks like privatization.” He claimed, if privatized, consumer will be assessed an additional value-added tax, which will increase rates by 12 percent.
Baciwa Board of Directors chair, Atty. Lorendo Dilag, recently assured the public that rate increases would be regulated under the agreement.
The Baciwa official noted, increase will still be subject for approval from the Local Water Utilities Administration.
Earlier, Bacolod City Councilor Wilson Gamboa, Jr. called for the Baciwa Board of Directors to resign, referring to the aforementioned joint venture as “arbitrary and illegal,” claiming, “The venture is not an option in order to solve the city’s water supply woes.”
“Resign, revamp; they are just mere appointees so they have no right to stay longer in Baciwa,” Gamboa added./DGB, WDJ