BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
(Continued from Oct. 23-24, 2021 issue)
QUESTION: Is corporate conscience really important in the BACIWA brouhaha?
The answer: Yes!
Terminating regular government workers in the guise of reorganization is a scandal. BACIWA, therefore, is currently weathering the “nasty waves” of public opinion. It has to take time to legally substantiate its reasoning on the issue of reorganization which has already been declared by the CSC as illegal.
Republic Act (RA) 6656 underscores that reorganization in any entity of the government must be pursued in good faith. And it’ll only take place when there is an alteration of the existing structure of government offices or units therein.
In the case of BACIWA, the CSC in Region 6 already affirmed that the above-quoted provisions on reorganization weren’t observed. Even the JVA didn’t cause an alternation in BACIWA’s present structure. Read the CSC decision.
Thus, the CSC reminded the BACIWA management regarding the very “soul” of the Security of Tenure as enunciated in Republic Act 6656: “No officer or employee of the civil service shall be removed or suspended except for cause provided by law.”
Cementing this specific pro-civil servant provision, per jurisprudence from the High Tribunal, is the “Mga Kawani ng Energy Regulatory Board versus Commissioner Fe B. Barin, et.al” (GR No. 150974, June 9, 2007).
DISCOLORED MORALITY
So, by having now a “discolored morality” on the issue of allegedly violating Republic Act 6656, BACIWA executives were left with no choice but to explore all the readily available redeeming possibilities. Or else, they’ll suffer from severe “moral tragedy” which is worse than a metastatic (medical) cancer.
Moral tragedy is simply characterized by horrendous moral dilemmas. Its agent or agents are faced with inescapable wrongdoing(s). Sad but true.
Believe me, BACIWA’s “immune system” or its management per se is currently tending to this moral tragedy. The more it disregards CSC’s order, the more it is plunging on the quick sand of public hatred. Because the more these dismissed workers suffer from the “oddities” in life, the more they’re cursing the causers of their sufferings. Then, such cursing might lead to the unearthing of the alleged “stinking” truth within the beleaguered water firm.
And pocket my words, no amount of press or photo release(s) can ever “cure” this kind of tragedy.
UNBUNDLED BILLINGS
Also up to complicate this moral tragedy are the unbundled billings by the Prime Water-BACIWA JVA set to be imposed next month.
Bacolod City’s Councilor Jun Gamboa, a noted anti-JVA crusader, says these unbundled billings include:
* Prevailing fuel price
* Exchange rates
* Consumers’ price index
* Non-revenue waters
* Profit margin
* Current inflation rates
* 12% value added tax (VAT)
All these, stresses the councilor, will be burdened or “lukduhon” by Bacolod’s water consumers.
“So, expect an increase of 40 percent in your water billing (s) in November,” Gamboa warns Bacolodnons.
MORAL RESUSCITATION
Capping this piece, I can say, it ain’t isolated that the tears (of the workers) may “contaminate” the BACIWA waters sooner.
If the BACIWA management can’t handle well the issue of the disgruntled workers, then, it might sink in the “angst” of public discourse.
And for me, it’s really high-time for the BACIWA management to heed the suggestion of Bacolod City’s Mayor Bing Leonardia to really look for a win-win solution using as potent reference the recent CSC Order of Reinstatement.
If not, the BACIWA management, including the controversial JVA, will be “drowned” beyond moral resuscitation in the swallowing “sea” of public perception./PN
