THE Bacolod Water Consumers Watch Inc. or Water Watch has requested the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to look into the P537-million loan obtained by the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) 16 years ago.
The group, headed by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. as president, pointed out that the loan was approved in 1998, and the project was implemented in 2001 and completed in 2006.
rIn a resolution dated August 11, the Water Watch stated that the P537-million loan was part of the 20th Yen Credit Package which the Philippine government obtained from Japan’s then Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) now known as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
“Only a little more than half of the amount was used for actual civil works projects and about 25 to 35 percent of the P537-million project loan had been spent by the Baciwa Board of Directors and is considered anomalous,” it added.
The Water Watch, in its resolution, also urged the LWUA to intervene in the move of three Baciwa directors of suspending Baciwa general manager Juliana Carbon.
They cited Memorandum Circular 01-2014 of the Civil Service Commission which states that “in the higher interest of equity, justice and fairness, the permanent appointments issued to GM incumbents before June 05, 2013, on basis of CSC Resolution Number 06-01052 dated June 20, 2006 and CSC MC Number 12, series of 2006 shall be respected.”
Gamboa said, however, the Water Watch “not directly intrude into the internal bickering between and among the general manager, the three directors, the other directors, management, and employees.”
“LWUA, being the highest body tasked to develop water utilities through financial, technical, institutional and regulatory assistance, can rule on the issue regarding the suspension (of Carbon) and its consequences to water service efficiency and water security,” he added.
Also present during the Water Watch meeting on August 11 were other officers, including Rolly Torre, Benjamin Tundag, Edevia Gamboa, Agustin Grajo Sr., Mildred Valladolid, Ma. Luisa Parroco, Priscilla Goco, Mary Grace Julian and Ma. Lyn Valgona.