TRO mulled vs Baciwa’s joint venture

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. Monday said that Amlig-Tubig, an alliance of concerned water consumers where he is one of the convenors, is mulling to file an injunction with prayer for  Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop the contract signing between Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) Board of Directors and Prime Water next month.

The group is also eyeing administrative charges against Baciwa directors with the Ombudsman over the joint venture.

Gamboa said the “joint venture” is onerous and highly disadvantageous to consumers.

He also said that the Baciwa board failed to conduct consultation with the sectors they represent which is mandated by the joint venture.

“The way I understand it is that these board of directors are there representing a particular sector, there was no consultation conducted by the BOD. Never did any of these directors called their sector for any consultation,” he added.

The councilor described the a joint venture as a concession and privatization of Baciwa “which is highly disadvantageous to the consumers.”

He added that the Baciwa board seems to have handed over the utility firm to Prime Water by devaluing its worth which is tantamount to falsification.

Baciwa’s income last year was P90 million but based on the contract, we will stand to receive only P35 million.

“Based on the feasibility study, the capital requirement of Baciwa is P2 billion but they (Prime Water) is asking us to get into a P6-billion contract.”