Official: Baciwa joint venture should be last option

THERE are so many options to solve the water problem in Bacolod City, Coun- cilor Dindo Ramos said.

Ramos, who led the public hearing on the proposed joint venture or public-private partnership between the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa)and the Prime Water at the Government Center yesterday, said proposed joint venture is only a last option to improve the utility firm’s water delivery services.

Ramos, chairperson of the City Council committee on energy, said Baciwa is still negotiating with Prime Water.

“This kind of business (distribution of water) is a profitable venture that is why they are here to do business so why we should give it to them?” he asked.

Among the options considered by Ramos is to apply for a loan, address the mismanagement inside the water district or give it to the city government. “So why not to avail these options first before concluding to joint venture?”

If Baciwa has a problem on mismanagement which caused loss profits, Ramos said the utility firm should not tolerate it and they should charge those persons involved in mismanagement.

Ramos pointed out that Baciwa should conduct a consultation first before closing their deal.

“They are claiming that consultation is not a mandatory requirement, but we are asking them to comply with it even though it’s not a mandatory requirement because it’s part of the due process to hear the sentiments of the consumers before they can act on it,” he said.

Ramos will submit a committee report with his recommendations to the City Council this week and will gather the sentiments of his

colleagues on the said issue.

He said they will monitor the negotiation of Baciwa with the Prime Water.

“It’s our role to determine if we have the power to intervene or we have to respect the wisdom of the board of directors of Baciwa on this issue,” Ramos said.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary-general Michael Dela Conception said Baciwa should address the water shortage in Bacolod and they should also report their unoperated wells including the status of the bulk water.

“We want Baciwa to resolve the problem without the joint the private-public partnership. They have options to apply for a loan among others,” he said.

He added they will continue to oppose the privatization of the water district. For her part, Baciwa general manager Juliana Carbon said they are not yet on the negotiation stage with the Prime Water.

“It will take a long time...so Baciwa should also prepare what they will expect in 25 years from the private company as well as the issue on the security of tenure and protection of employees will also be tackled first,” she said.

Carbon pointed out they need more water supply because Baciwa lacks 40 million liters a day, and the option is a water rate increase, loans or more bulk water supplies.

She admitted they are receiving several complaints on lack of water supply, dirty water, among others, so they need to address it.

“We just hope and pray that our board of directors can come up with the best decision that is beneficial to both the water district employees, the consumers and the public in general,” she said.

It’s still undetermined if the negotiation of Baciwa with Prime Water is a joint venture or for privatization because of some issues and views that need to be cleared by Baciwa.

Meanwhile, Carbon also denied that Baciwa is losing because they have positive net income and positive cash flow.

As of December 2018, Baciwa has a total of 55,926 consumers in Bacolod.

Also present in the public hearing were representatives from Social Action Center, Kadamay, United Negros Drivers Operators Center, Kilusang Mayo Uno, and General Alliance of Workers Association./map