• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The newly installed acting general manager of Bacolod City Water District, Engr. Michael Soliva, who officially took his seat on Tuesday, vowed to provide better service and improve the quality of water for the sake of the consumers, as entrusted to him by the board of directors.
He also disclosed that he will push transparent communication and coordination between the BACIWA and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation (PWIC), in relation to the existing joint venture agreement (JVA).
“My only promise to the consumer is that we will improve our water service and its quality; we will improve it with the help of PrimeWater. We have to work hand-in-hand with PrimeWater,” Soliva said in an interview.
With regards to the demands of the city and the consumers for better service, Soliva promised to fasten the solutions and avoid delays of the operations for the benefit of the Bacolodnons.
“We have to be transparent with them [PrimeWater], and they also need to be transparent with us so that we have the same direction and that we need to fasten [speed up] our operations because there have been delays for a long time,” he highlighted.
“I am more of a technical person, and I have been with the operations for a long time, so I already have an idea about that,” Soliva added, assuring the public of faster solutions.
Meanwhile, Soliva hopes for an orderly transition of documents during the transition period, including the documents needed for the transferring of property title purchased by BACIWA in Barangay Alangilan during the term of ousted GM Mona Dia Jardin.
One of the major issues raised by the board of directors against Jardin was the purchase of a P34 million 2-hectare lot, to be developed as an eco-park. However, until now there is still the absence of the necessary documents, an allegation that was denied by Jardin.
Board of Directors chairman Atty. Sonya Verdeflor said that there have been development activities lined up for the property, but they cannot start because of the absence of documents and clearances that are needed before the operation.
Soliva said that Jardin has not yet provided the documents regarding the matter, but most likely the board will entrust him for the faster processing of the needed documents and clearances.
“Most likely that will be assigned to me, but I will just take all the mandates from the board,” he said.
On the other hand, Soliva, when asked about the refusal of Jardin to vacate the position, said that he will not focus on it, but rather prioritize on improving and developing the service of BACIWA to the consumers.
“We need to leave it to the legal minds on how to deal with it, because I, personally, believe that the board resolution will stay. I am just following the resolution,” he said.
Furthermore, Baciwa Employees Union (BEU) President Leny Espina disclosed that they had already started to conduct a dialogue with the BACIWA board of directors regarding the backwages and the legal options of the 59 employees dismissed by the former general manager.
The union believes that the ouster of Jardin will give them high hopes that the dismissed employees can be installed again, and will be paid their backwages.
“If they want to meet, anytime the office is open for the employees,” Soliva said as he vowed to open doors for the union.*
