BACIWA workers camp out over reinstatement, unpaid benefits

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By Juliane Judilla

Workers of the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) staged a two-day protest camp-out from March 30 to April 1 outside the agency’s main office in Bacolod City, demanding the reinstatement of dismissed employees and the release of long-overdue benefits.

The protest, led by the BACIWA Employees Union, came after a compromise agreement signed Jan. 31 between the union and the Board of Directors remained unenforced.

At the center of the dispute are 59 employees previously declared illegally dismissed. The union is demanding their immediate reinstatement, along with the payment of more than PHP 123 million in back wages as ordered in an Aug. 20, 2021 Civil Service Commission ruling.

The 38-page ruling, signed by Western Visayas regional director Nelson Sarmiento, ordered that the terminated workers be “reinstated without loss of seniority and shall be entitled to full pay from the time of their separation until actual reinstatement.”

Union leaders criticized what they described as prolonged inaction on the ruling, saying it has forced affected workers into years of economic uncertainty. Many of those dismissed have turned to informal and unstable work to support their families.

The protest also raised concerns over a joint venture agreement involving BACIWA, which union members said contributed to job displacement and could have broader consequences for consumers.

“Privatization means a 12% VAT on water services. This will make water more expensive for ordinary households, turning a basic necessity into a commodity for profit,” said union vice president Benjie Oray.

Workers emphasized that their protest extends beyond labor concerns, pointing to wider implications for public access to water services.

“Our fight is not just personal — it is for the whole community,” said Ernie Mahilum, a former BACIWA survey aide.

The union maintains that water, as an essential public service, should remain affordable and accessible, and warned that privatization could shift priorities from public welfare toward profit.

The group called on concerned government agencies to enforce the Civil Service Commission ruling and facilitate the immediate reinstatement of affected employees. It also appealed to civil society organizations, academic institutions, and the public to support their campaign. (Photos by Althea Geaga, CEGP-NIR)