By CESAR JOLITO III

At least 59 former employees of the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) are calling for the immediate release of their full backwages, which they have long awaited, along with their reinstatement as stipulated in a previously signed compromise agreement with the agency’s Board of Directors.

During a press conference, Baciwa Employees Union President Leny Rojo-Espina said the payment of backwages is already “due and demandable,” stressing that the amount covers the period from January 2021 to December 31, 2025.

The total backwages being claimed has reached P123,573,725.36.

Espina maintained that the 59 workers were allegedly dismissed illegally and should now receive what is rightfully owed to them under the agreement.

She emphasized that deductions for personal loans should not be applied to their backwages, as this was not included in the terms of the compromise deal.

Citing a specific provision in the agreement, Espina explained that only mandatory benefit deductions and applicable taxes are allowed.

Any additional deductions, including personal loans, she argued, would violate the agreed terms.

The dispute traces back to December 2019, when the 59 employees were laid off due to “redundancy” following Baciwa’s entry into a joint venture agreement.

Since then, the affected workers have been seeking compensation and reinstatement, asserting that their termination was unjust.

The group is now urging Baciwa’s management and board to honor the agreement and expedite the release of the backwages, bringing closure to a labor issue that has persisted for several years./CJ, WDJ