Protestors gathered at the gates of the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) yesterday morning, expecting the appearance of dismissed General Manager Mona Dia Jardin. However she was a no-show which also paved an easy takeover of the water utility’s helm by Engr. Michael Soliva who was appointed acting general manager by the BACIWA board following their removal of Jardin last August 22.
Soliva said his priority at the moment is to ensure water supply and improve water quality and stressing that this could be done with the help of Prime Water (PW).
“We have to work with Prime Water. We just need to be transparent with them (PW) and them with us to know what really is their direction. If there are shortcomings, these needs to be addressed double-time because these has caused so much delay already,” Soliva said, adding that he has an idea about the problems as he has been handling operations in Baciwa for a long time already.
Soliva also sat as acting general manager after Prime Water’s takeover of BACIWA until he was replaced by Jardin.
He also said he will just follow what the board resolution entails and leaves it up to legal minds to resolve the issue regarding Jardin.
“My priority now is to channel all our energy and focus in delivering quality water supply to our consumers and we have to do that with our partner (PW) because we cannot do it without their support also,” Soliva said adding that he hopes the transition of responsibilities from Jardin to his office will be “peaceful.”
He also said that he expects Jardin to go to the office anytime as “she still has some of her things here and we are not touching those till she comes and get it herself.”
Jardin earlier said she will not vacate her position and called the board resolution “illegal, null and void and without any basis both morally and in law.”
Her termination was passed by three of five Board of Directors that constitute a “majority”, including Chairperson Sonya Verdeflor, Vice-chairperson Edgardo Uychiat and Corporate Secretary Clarissa Araneta who also sought intervention from the Local Water Utilities Administration.