THE Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) has postponed the signing of a contract originally scheduled on Thursday, March 10, with the bulk water supplier consortium of Mactan Rock Industries Inc., TGV Builders Inc., and Tubig Pilipinas Group Inc.
The Baciwa board of directors explained that the postponement was due to the absence of one of the signatories, Ryan Wesley Yapkianwee of Tubig Pilipinas.
“He was actually at the airport when he received a message that badly requires his presence that the Board deemed his reason as valid, thus they decided to postpone the signing of the contract,” said Maria Aida Torre, chairperson of the Baciwa board of directors.
Conrado Belisario of TGV Builders was also unable to attend the originally scheduled signing, but sent a representative with a special power of attorney to sign the contract in his behalf. Belisario was out of the country.
Only Antonio Carmelo Tompar of Mactan Rock Industries Inc. was present among consortium representatives on Thursday.
Baciwa directors David Villanueva, Cecilia Henares, and Alfredo Bayanin, and as well as General Manager Mario Macatangay, accompanied Torre in announcing the postponement.
Baciwa earlier invited Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella, representatives from the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Utilities Consumer Alliance of Negros (UCAN), and other concerned agencies to witness the contract signing.
Meanwhile, members of the Baciwa Employees Union held their scheduled rally on noon Thursday to protest the failure of management to release their rice allowances.
Macatangay said the water district does not oppose the granting of rice allowance, but the Commission on Audit disallowed it.
He appealed to employees for patience and understanding on the matter, since management was waiting for the decision of the Department of Budget and Management on the matter.
“The rally is part of their democratic exercise but held on wrong venue,” Macatangay said.
Macatangay earlier said that under law, only those who were hired on or before December 1999 could avail of the rice allowance, which was released last January. (CNC)