THE Bacolod City Council approved a resolution requesting the Office of the Solicitor General and the Department of Justice (DOJ) through the Office of President Rodrigo Duterte to check and review the joint venture contracts entered into by the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) with private concessionaires.

The resolution, authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., was approved during the regular session yesterday.

Gamboa, chairperson of the City Council committee on ways and means, said that in the light of scarcity of water supply in the country, President Duterte has ordered the review of government’s deal with private water concessionaire to omit onerous provisions that put the public at a disadvantage.

He said Baciwa is a government owned and controlled corporation and the same is imbued with public interest.

Gamboa noted that President Duterte issued the directive during the 36th Cabinet meeting held at Malacanang on April 1, 2019.

“The President then instructed all agencies especially the Solicitor General and the Department of Justice to check and review all contracts entered into with private water concessionaires and remove onerous provisions that might be detrimental to the lives of Filipinos,” Gamboa 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. (MAP)