By MAE SINGUAY
BACOLOD City — Three Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) directors requested the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to appoint an interim general manager to temporarily replace suspended General Manager Juliana Carbon.
Carbon had been suspended for 30 days effective Thursday last week.
Board of Directors’ chair Lawrence Villanueva, vice chair Lorendo Dilag, and secretary Marichi Ramos yesterday approved a resolution on the request.
Ramos clarified that Carbon was not terminated but under preventive suspension with pay.
The Board secretary filed an administrative case against Carbon before the Baciwa board.
USELESS STAY
Dilag said the only problem with Baciwa is Carbon, who holed up in her office after the Board ordered her suspension.
Carbon was supposedly barred from the Baciwa office, but she is not seen to leave anytime soon, with supportive water district employees guarding her round the clock.
“If she leaves Baciwa (office), there is no problem anymore,” Dilag stressed.
He said Carbon’s stay in her office is useless if she cannot perform any official function.
“We have already informed the banks not to accept documents signed by Carbon,” he said.
Carbon has claimed that her suspension was unlawful, with only three directors voting for it. She claimed there are six Board members.
Voting for her suspension were Villanueva, Dilag, and Ramos, and against it were Cecilia Henares and Maida Torre.
Ramos refuted this, saying the supposed sixth member, LWUA-appointee Engr. Alfredo Bayanin, was not recognized by the Board.
LOYALTY CHECK
In yesterday’s flag raising ceremony, Baciwa employees affirmed when Carbon asked them if they still recognize her as general manager.
Carbon said she will never leave the office as long as the workers recognize and support her but will concede to LWUA if the agency decides to take over the water district.
She also thanked Mayor Monico Puentevella for helping resolve their situation./PN
