Thursday, October 11, 2007 Water district won't give workers incentive By Carlo P. Mallo
THE Davao City Water District (DCWD) management maintains its stand against releasing the Collective Negotiation Agreement Incentive (CNAI) to workers as they don't have the money for such, even if the district indeed has money.
"There are guidelines to be followed, and programs to be complied with," DCWD spokesperson Imelda Magsusi said in an interview Wednesday.
A budget circular issued by the Department of Budget and Management to all government owned and controlled corporations dated February 1, 2006 specifically provided that the CNAI can only be sourced from the annual savings of the company.
The same circular stated that both the management and the labor union of the company must implement a cost-cutting program, the savings of which to be used as source of the incentives.
The management did not belie the claims that the water district has enough savings to cover the CNAI.
But, Magsusi said, "We just cannot release the incentives even if we have the funds."
"The funds that we have right now have already been allocated or appropriated for other uses and expenses," Magsusi said.
Having to fend for itself, DCWD had to fund projects on its own or through loans. "We do not get subsidy from the local and national governments," Magsusi added.
The Davao City Water District's workers' union, Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa DCWD (Namadacawad), demanded the release of their CNAI for the past couple of months despite explanations from the management.
Namadacawad has accused the management of DCWD of planning to avail of a P126 million loan in the guise of funding its Comprehensive Mainline Replacement Program when what it really aims for is to privatize the government-owned and controlled corporation.
Such allegations have been long denied by the management of DCWD. "Even the board has passed a resolution that we are against privatization," Rhodora Gamboa, general manager of DCWD, said in an interview.
"This has been the reason why they are opposing our plan to borrow money to realize our CMRP," Gamboa said.
She said the grant of the CNAI came personally from the mouth of one of the members of the union, during the City Council committee hearing last week.
She said the issues on privatization and water rate increase are out of context because the management and the board already gave their position that they are opposed to privatization and the 100 million loan will not result to a water rate increase.
