Stand your ground. This was the message to the BACIWA Board of Directors by two groups that welcomed the removal of BACIWA General Manager Monai Dia Jardin last August 22 and who are both calling for a “review” and “revocation” of the Joint Venture Agreement between the water utility and Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation.
The Baciwa Employees Union – NAFLU who staged a protest before the BACIWA office yesterday said in a statement that they “welcome the news of the ouster of Jardin” whom they tagged as “one of the chief architects of the disastrous Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between BACIWA and PrimeWater.”
The 59 members of the union said Jardin “bears heavy responsibility for our illegal termination and for the decline of water services for every Bacolodnon under her administration” and “her ouster just signals that the people of Bacolod have had enough of poor service and mismanagement.”
Jardin’s termination is also a significant step toward our pursuit of justice for our illegal dismissal in 2021, the union said, adding that they are now hopeful that the Local Water Utilities Administration will “properly investigate the circumstances of the JVA.”
“We hope that it paves the way for all Bacolodnons to finally rethink the disastrous JVA that has brought nothing but substandard service and hardship to hundreds of thousands of residents,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Water Watch Advocates (WWA) is urging the BACIWA Board to uphold the termination of Jardin to “pave the way for meaningful changes” in the water utility agency that has been beleaguered with complaints on water supply and water quality.
Sancho also urged Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya to “consider the revocation” of the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between the city water district and Prime Water which was effected five years ago and for Bacolod Councilor Bobby Roxas who chairs the Committee on Energy and Public Utilities to hold a public hearing for a contract review of the JVA and conduct an indepth investigation into the so-called “water projects” which WWA claims are allegedly riddled with graft and corruption.
Sancho also said the conflict arising from Jardin’s ouster and the BACIWA board may lead to “significant repercussions for consumers” if this battle becomes protracted.
“If Jardin refuses to step down it may create uncertainty and instability in the management of BACIWA Prime Water, potentially leading to continued poor water services and low water supply,” Sancho said, adding that this dispute may “hinder the implementation of much needed reforms in the water district which WWA had been advocating for.”
“Ultimately, the resolution of this conflict will depend on the Board’s ability to assert its authority and implement reforms that prioritize consumers’ interests,” Sancho added.