Baciwa, Prime Water deal signed in complete secrecy – councilor

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Bacolod City Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. questioned why the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and Prime Water joint venture was signed in “secrecy.”

“Baciwa is a government-owned and controlled corporation, a public entity and besides, it is imbued with public interest and public policy. All dealings should be transparent therefore their action goes beyond transparency and good governance. It was signed in complete secrecy,” Gamboa said.

Gamboa, who has called on Baciwa to be transparent in the transaction, said that the Baciwa Union was not even given a copy when they are supposedly a party, or at the very least, a witness to the contract.

“That is why it was signed in ‘clandestine and surreptitious manner’ only by the three directors.”Gamboa said.

The three are Directors Mona Dia Jardin, Lawrence Villanueva and Atty. Lorendo Dilag, who is the chairman of the board.

Gamboa said the action of the three directors not only surrendered Baciwa’s mandate and right to a private company under the law but also gravely prejudices the decision of the next board by entering into a 25-year contract.

The three remaining directors of Baciwa surreptitiously and clandestinely, like a thief in the, night signed the said contract, he reiterated.

“The people of Bacolod are angry and enraged that despite the recently concluded positive outcome of the public hearing just last week with the Baciwa management, the city legal office, Land Bank, etc. where several options were discussed for the planned improvement, rehabilitation and expansion, yet these directors pushed through with the highly and gravely disadvantageous P7-billion contract with Prime Water. It is scandalous and an outrage.”

On Friday, Baciwa board chairman Lorendo Dilag announced that Baciwa and Prime Water have signed a Joint Venture Contract on water distribution services.

Dilag said that those who want to see or get a copy of the contract shall follow the procedure under Right to Information Act.