THE Bacolod City Council has approved a resolution requesting the management of Baciwa-PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation to consider immediate reinstatement of the dismissed Baciwa workers per the decision of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
The resolution, authored by Councilors Archie Baribar and Wilson Gamboa Jr., was approved during the regular session of the City Council on Wednesday afternoon, September 1, 2021.
The councilors said the 60 Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) workers were terminated from work as a consequence of a joint venture agreement entered by and between Baciwa and PrimeWater, which resulted in a case filed before CSC by the workers concerned against the management.
“Recently, a judgment in favor of the dismissed Baciwa workers was promulgated by the CSC-Regional Office for their reinstatement and back wages,” they said.
They added that it is in the best interest of the City that industrial peace prevails in the water district as prolonged litigation will not only place the City in a bad light but will expend valuable energies and resources on concerns other than providing safe, potable and affordable water supply to the consuming public.
On December 23, 2020, Baciwa board of directors issued Resolution No. 172 Series of 202, declaring as redundant the 60 employees of Baciwa pursuant to the reorganization of the joint venture agreement between Baciwa and PrimeWater.
The CSC’s decision dated August 20, 2021 signed by Western Visayas Director Nelson Sarmiento stated that terminated employees will be reinstated without loss of seniority and will be entitled to full pay from the time of their separation until actual reinstatement.
Although the mentioned resolution of the CSC may be subject to an appeal and order of finality before implementation, the councilors said the board of directors of Baciwa should take notice and consideration to the dire predicament of 60 dismissed employees during the time of the pandemic.