NOT take over, as there was no resistance whatsoever from its board to the entry of Prime Waters Infrastructure Corp. (PWIC).
This is how I describe the omnibus criticism of Baciwa manager Juliana Carbon on the process and outcome of the negotiation between the Baciwa board and the PWIC.
Other terms for it is total sell out, surrender of the board of Baciwa institution and assets to PWIC, using a ruse that make it appear that they are fighting for workers and consumers interest when they are not.
What a shame for this bunch of supposed public servants arrogating unto themselves so much entitlements when the utility is a public owned institution.
I was informed that there’s a tarp at Baciwa office with caption “Oppose Baciwa privatization”, with the name of the board under it. Holy cow! If it’s theirs then it’s the worst insult they hurled to the utility workers and consumers.
Well, let’s take it from Carbon herself who insisted that the board rushed the agreement by issuing certificate of successful negotiation when there are contentious terms that have not been resolved yet, or must be subjected to public hearing.
Who could not make such a conclusion when many terms in the proposed agreement of great magnitude are yet to be presented to public hearing for affirmation or rejection?
Among the contentious points is that PWIC wants to use Baciwa facilities, assets under usufruct term, but COA rules say there should be rental agreement. This is illegal.
Another, PWIC commits only to supply 10 psi start 4th year not 1st year, leaving more than 50 percent consumers without water or little water. This is crazy. Would they want a revolution among water consumers?
Also absurd is that most of the terms in the agreement are too general thus leaving it to PWIC to decide and put substance later.
Baciwa demanded that PWIC invests in the utility P80 million per year equivalent to its current annual income but the latter could commit P35 million only from year 1-5th year, and P36 million from 6th to 10 years. In effect, they want to bleed dry the utility, as justification for their absolute take over.
Worse, another terms want Baciwa employees and workers to change status from GSIS to SSS, once the agreement is done; it is short of saying they will be under a private entity. Privatization so to speak.
Employees have no option but either to accept PWIC retirement term offer or accept transfer as private employees, with offer of 250 percent of employees’ current wage.
In the main, there’s nothing in the agreement that clarifies partnership, or joint venture because Baciwa management will have nothing to do with the management and operations of the utility, except to monitor and regulate when necessary.
Now it is crystal clear. No matter what the board says or not, the deal they are making is not joint venture, not partnership, but absolute surrender of public interest to profit driven big water capitalist firm.
Well, will the consumers and other quarters agree to the privatization no matter what the cost? Some says, they don’t care to pay more or whoever takes over so long as they get water 24/7. Oh come on. I’ve heard that argument several times, and they the few among elites living in rich and flashy subdivisions in NCR. But when they are battered with water price hikes, they cry foul. How much more for the marginalized sectors?
In contrast, Carbon and the union repeatedly assert that Baciwa is socially committed to its consumer’s interest, and has the technical capacity to expand its supply to meet consumer’s demands. It only needs some financial support, or even ready to seek new loans, because after all it is still earning.
It is the board blocking it, because it is seeking so called solution from outside Baciwa, not within and among the consumers.
The consumers will have play a major role in this battle. And whoever gets them to their side will win the war.
Carbon and union, should link arms with various sectors, to reach out to the consumers, and together wage concerted movement to protect public utilities, first from the utility board who have obviously abandoned public interest, and second from ravenous big capitalist water companies.
By the way, don’t forget to wage struggles too against the Villars who own the PWIC, including the lady Senator Cynthia Villar who heads several strategic committees including agriculture, environment and natural resources, where water industry belongs.