Wennie Sancho, convenor of Water Watch Advocates in Bacolod City, asserted that “Our local City Officials and the members of the BACIWA Board of Directors, owe the people of Bacolod City an explanation on the decision-making process involving the transfer of ownership from Prime Water to Crystal Bridges Holdings.”
In order to debunk public perception that the sale of Prime Water is not a “sweetheart deal” between the two parties, a public disclosure is necessary. BACIWA is an institution imbued with public interest therefore the public has the right to know what are the salient points involved in this contract affecting their rights and welfare as stakeholders, he said.
“In times of crisis, we cannot be silent. We must speak out strongly on this issue of transfer of ownership and the JVA which is grossly disadvantageous to the consumers as proven by the dismal failure of BACIWA Prime Water to provide adequate water supply and services to us,” Sancho said.
The water consumers are trapped in a never-ending nightmare. The JVA between BACIWA and Prime Water has become a noose around our necks, choking us with inefficient services, inadequate water supply and unaffordable water rates, he said.
“We were told that Prime Water was bought by Crystal Bridges Holdings but we were left wondering what does this mean for us? Is the JVA still valid? Are we bound to suffer under this oppressive agreement forever? We didn’t ask for this JVA. But it was imposed upon us and we’re forced to suffer the consequences. Our voices are ignored, our pleas are dismissed and our rights are trampled upon,” Sancho said.
Our local City officials and the members of the BACIWA Board of Directors arrogated to themselves the power to decide for us, claiming that it is for the good of the consumers, without the benefit of public consultation. They took it upon themselves to announce the new blessings but they didn’t dare to point out the danger from afar – the possibility of a “sweetheart contract” and the burden of the future rate increases in our monthly water bills. Any undertaking based on a wicked principle, avowed and acted upon in the name of profit over service to the consumers is anti-people, he said.
It is our moral duty to protest what is not acceptable. We cannot take in conscience what appears to be a deplorable deception, Sancho said.
Water Watch Advocates demands to be freed from this onerous JVA between BACIWA and Prime Water. We demand our rights to clean, affordable and reliable water. We are stuck in this quagmire with the JVA serving as a lump on our throat and pain on our necks. When will we be free? Oh, when will we be heard? His statement asked.*
