“IT’S a total betrayal and complete sell out for privatization to the City of Bacolod and its people.”

This was the reaction of Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. after the board of the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) approved the unsolicited proposal of Prime Waters for a 25-year joint venture contract.

Gamboa, who earlier expressed his opposition on the privatization of Baciwa, said on Wednesday, January 16, that Baciwa is a water district created by its own charter will be converted to a joint venture stock which involves the management and water distribution.

“As I have known, Baciwa will avail of more loans to finance this projects, however, this sudden change has taken us by surprise,” he said.

Claudio Salmo, president of Baciwa Employees Union, earlier said that the board has approved the unsolicited proposal of Prime Waters for a 25-year joint venture contract.

He said the joint venture contract involves the management and water distribution of Baciwa.

The approval of the Prime Water's unsolicited proposal was done by the Baciwa board during its regular meeting last week.

“Nothing could be perceived as to its privatization,” Gamboa said.

He said next week, he will pass a resolution requiring the Baciwa officials to explain the approval of the unsolicited proposal of Prime Waters. (MAP)