Gamboa questions the status of P537M in loans
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Councilor Wilson Gamboa, Jr. lambasted the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) over the proposed joint venture with PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation.
In a privilege speech before the Sangguniang Panlungsod regular session this week, the city official called on the Baciwa Board of Directors to “exercise public transparency and accountability” and called for consultations.
“It is also important for Baciwa to present to the people of Bacolod other project proposals of interested parties such as Metro Pacific [and] Manila Water, including Baciwa’s in-house proposal,” he noted. “It is important to note that in the light of the problems, controversies and issues concerning these private water concessionaires.”
Gamboa noted President Rodrigo Duterte directing the Department of Justice and Office of the Solicitor General to review all existing water contracts linked with the said Manila-based water concessionaires.
He added, “It is imperative for us now to review and scrutinize the management of Baciwa in terms of revenue operation, personnel management, and—the most important one—how the funds of Baciwa [are] being handled and managed.”
Gamboa highlighted the P537 million borrowed in loans by the utility firm.
“Where did the P537 million loan and the additional supplemental budget of P108 million in 2002 to 2008 go?” he asked.
He said the utility firm’s lack of answers creates a “form of oppression,” which leads the public to view a joint venture agreement as a “necessary evil.”
Earlier, Gamboa 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.”
Local labor leader Wennie Sancho said they have repeatedly sent letters to the Baciwa Board but they were repeatedly ignored.
While acknowledging the two public hearings held on the matter, he pointed out, the Baciwa board failed to attend either meeting.
Sancho added, their organization is only seeking clarification, expressing fears the joint venture “looks like privatization.” He claimed, if privatized, consumers 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./DGB, WDJ