• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
Water Watch Advocates is mulling the filing of a complaint before the courts for the nullification of the joint venture agreement (JVA) between Baciwa and PrimeWater, for lack of consultation, Wennie Sancho, Water Watch Advocates convenor, said during the launching of their signature campaign yesterday.
The signature campaign calls for the revocation of the JVA between Baciwa and PrimeWater for lack of transparency, potential harm to consumers, violation of public trust, among others.
Sancho said the JVA should be revoked, and another agreement should be made with Baciwa, opening the gates to other bidders.
They will request the Sangguniang Panglungsod to hold another public hearing since the agreement concerns the welfare of the people. It is unfortunate that the JVA is grossly disadvantageous to the consumers, he said.
Samson Soriano, member of Water Watch Advocates, said water consumers no longer rely on Baciwa for potable water because this can be bought from water refilling stations. Baciwa is supposed to produce potable water needed by the consumers since it is its responsibility.
Sancho said Baciwa is mandated to provide potable water.
It is not proper and even unethical for Baciwa-PrimeWater to promise water supply that is not up and running yet. It is like they’re trying to pull the wool over the people’s eyes, especially when the consumers do not know the ins and outs of water supply management, he said.
Transparency and honesty are crucial in situations like this. People deserve to know what is going on and what to expect.
It would be better for Baciwa-PrimeWater to give regular updates on the status of their projects, including any challenges they’re facing and when we can expect them to be completed. In that way, consumers can stay informed and hold them accountable for their promises, Sancho said.
In the context of the JVA between Baciwa and PrimeWater, they might be giving false assurances or promises about water supply sources that are not yet operational, potentially misleading consumers into thinking that they have more reliable access to water than they actually do, he said.*
