OR THE education and mobilization of water consumers and other stakeholders to frustrate the imminent takeover of the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) by capitalist water firm Prime Waters owned by billionaire politicians Villar family.
The Baciwa union can no longer handle the takeover issue alone because some of its leaders and members have already surrendered to the Baciwa board. Compounding the union’s woes is the reported massive campaign of the Baciwa board and the city government among the administration’s barangay leaders and followers to reject all opposition to Prime Waters and discredit the Baciwa union as well as it ally group the AMLIG Tubig, which also has limited capacities to engage the issue and influence the people.
The City Government too is unreliable and not trustworthy on the Baciwa issue. At their best they will play neutral even it is obvious that their so called neutrality tends to tip to the sell-out position of Baciwa board.
They might also appear pro-water consumers and pro-development by conjuring to the public the illusion that city government is doing all its best to sustain water supply to the city’s so-called economic growth momentum even if the city politicians are either ignorant or are closing their eyes and ears on the increasing number of communities having decreasing water supply.
Still, the remaining well-meaning officers and members of Baciwa union could initiate massive, quicker and simpler (or easy to understand education, not scary and isolating propaganda language) education platform and creative mobilizations in the barangays, relocation sites, subdivisions, schools, slum areas, haciendas and farms, transport terminals, malls and parks – that would draw interest and pro-active responses on the water problem.
It could extend its arms with private personalities and institutions, business sector, churches, academe, NGOs, POs and Civil society organizations in forming broad citizens formation that will spearhead the massive campaign to frustrate the schemes of Baciwa board, some city politicians and all those they use to prop up the interest of Prime Waters.
This is something Baciwa union has failed to do but could really do if they try smarter and harder.
Baciwa union is in fact in the best position to do this since they know the dynamics and intricacies of the Baciwa operations and its water supply status. On the other hand, Baciwa union should also be prepared to do self-criticism for the service inefficiencies and failures, and the continuing internal corruption which allegedly have already engulfed not only the board but also the management and operations people, including the largely “squandered” P500M plus loan from Jica in the past decade or so which was meant for the upgrading or modernization of Baciwa facilities and services.
As I said, it’s not too late for Baciwa union to redeem itself from all its shortcomings and failures, including the damages made by some opportunist traitors and detractors in its ranks. All it must do is follow these unsolicited advises.
As to city politicians who have sincere heart for the water consumers’ interests, future of Baciwa, and the water requirements for the city’s development, get out and counter the official stand, question in proper court and avenues the joint venture agreement inked by Baciwa board and the Prime Waters.
They should also encourage other service groups and development organizations to set up community-based and owned water supply systems, or offer other water delivery systems, should Prime Waters got the green signal of the national government, to prevent Prime Waters monopoly.
And even if Prime Waters have already begun its operations, mass movements should continue until the citizens of Bacolod get the kind of service they deserve, and the city government is freed from greedy and stupid politicians and the oligarchs behind them.
The key to achieving all this is mass movement approach to socio-economic and socio-political problems of the city because the city’s mechanisms for good governance and service have failed to rightly function – despite the city’s numerous accolades, awards, citizens in governance and service.
Aristotle has a fitting reminder on this issue, “once the oligarchs seize power, a society must either accept tyranny or choose revolution or other contrary options.”