THE Utilities Consumers Alliance of Negros (Ucan) is urging the Provincial Board (PB) of Bacolod to conduct an investigation into the reported privatization plan of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa).
Vicente Petierre III, counsel of Ucan, said Sunday they held an emergency meeting last week after they received information that the Baciwa management received an unsolicited proposal from Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (Metropac) to form a joint venture corporation.
He said they will come up with a position paper because they believe it’s not only for the rehabilitation of Baciwa, but also for the plan to privatize the water district.
Ucan will also submit their position paper to the PB to call for the immediate investigation to address the problem.
Petierre said that from the start, the Ucan is against the privatization of Baciwa because once it is privatized, it could no longer protect the welfare of its consumers.
Claudio Salmo, president of Baciwa Employees Union, had earlier said the unsolicited proposal of the Metropac to Baciwa will lead to the privatization of the water district.
He had also said that if it pushes through, 80 percent of profit will go to the private entity and Baciwa will get only 20 percent.
The Metro Pacific proposal includes rehabilitation, and build-operate- transfer scheme.
Petierre said they question the term “rehabilitation” because during the formation of bulk water project with Baciwa, the management of Baciwa assured them that the bulk water project could solve the water supply problem in Bacolod for the next four to five years.
He said that once Baciwa is privatized, it is also a given that there will be a rate increase.
“If Metropac has the capability to rehabilitate and to produce water supply, it means we should not talk about privatization, and instead address the mismanagement of Baciwa officials,” Petierre said.
He added that Ucan will send a letter to Baciwa, asking the management to give them a copy of the unsolicited proposal submitted by Metropac.
“We don’t believe that it was an unsolicited proposal. Who will provide the accurate data of Baciwa to Metropac?" Petierre asked.
He said that until now there is no improvement in the performance of Baciwa, adding that several barangays in Bacolod are still suffering from low water supply.
“Water is a basic necessity and we will not rely on the decision of the five board of directors of Baciwa and its manager. This is the time that the City Government will conduct an investigation to ensure the welfare of its constituents,” Petierre said.
Representatives of Metropac will arrive in Bacolod today to present and explain their proposal to the union members.