BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Civil Service Commission Regional Office VI upheld its earlier decision denying the motion for reconsideration filed by the members of the Board of Directors of the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) in the case filed against them by the 60 terminated Baciwa employees, for lack of merit.
The case was filed by the employees led by its union president Leni Espina when they were terminated in 2020 after Baciwa finalized its joint venture agreement (JVA) with Prime Water Infrastructure Corp (PrimeWater).
The Baciwa BOD declared their positions redundant and terminated them on December 31, 2020.
The CSC in its decision promulgated August 20 signed by regional director Nelson Sarmiento, said that it is a settled rule that in order for a motion for reconsideration to be given due course, the movant must have presented new evidence or raised valid arguments to warrant the reversal or modification of the assailed decision.
“Soliva, et al has neither presented new evidence which would materially affect the CSC Regional Office VI Decision No. 210015 promulgated on August 20 nor raised any valid reason/argument to warrant the setting aside or modification of the same. Thus, their motion for reconsideration shall be denied for lack of merit,” it said.
The CSC had earlier ordered the Baciwa Board to reinstate the terminated workers without loss of seniority and that they will be entitled to full pay from the time of their separation until actual reinstatement.
Cesar Beloria, one of the employees’ legal counsels, said they will move for the reinstatement of the Baciwa workers.
PrimeWater led by Paolo Villar took over Baciwa’s operations on November 16, 2020.*
