BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
TAKE 2! The BACIWA (Bacolod City Water District) Board of Directors should have been “ashamed” of the latest order from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) – Regional Office 6 in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
The CSC-Region 6, in its Oct. 27, 2021 order, junked the Motion for Reconsideration (MR) filed by the BACIWA Board in August this year.
Instead, the CSC-Region 6 thru its director Nelson Sarmiento again ordered the BACIWA management to reinstate now the 60 illegally terminated workers.
It was on Dec. 31, 2020 when BACIWA management dismissed the workers for alleged redundancy of positions due to the newly-implemented reorganization in the water firm.
The reorganization was caused by the controversial 25-year Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between BACIWA and the Villar-led Prime Water Infrastructure Corp. (Prime Water).
The JVA, in spite of public opposition, commenced in Nov. 29, 2020.
Later, however, the Commission on Audit (COA) and CSC-Region 6 ruled that the reorganization implemented by the BCIWA Board was illegal, thus, it cannot terminate the Civil Service-protected workers.
In August this year, CSC-Region 6 ordered the BACIWA Management to reinstate the workers and pay all their back wages, among other benefits.
Instead of heeding the CSC-Region 6, however, the BACIWA Management filed an MR.
Later, however, such MR was also turned down by the CSC Region 6.
DILLY-DALLY
Bacolod City’s Councilor Jun Gamboa was a little bit disappointed with the way the BACIWA management acts on the decision of CSC-Region 6.
It is pride that makes them “naïve” on the workers despite the CSC-Region 6 order, Gamboa described the current scenario, referring to the BACIWA Board.
Lawyer Lorendo “Indong” Dilag, president of the BACWA Board, could not be reached for comment as of press time.
Aside from amor propio, they’re also into dilly-dally tactics aimed at wasting time for nothing.
Gamboa says they’ll meet again with Mayor Bing Leonardia and ask for immediate intercession on the matter.
“We will ask the mayor to look into the plight of these 60-dismisssed workers amidst the health pandemic and economic crunch.”
The councilor says it’s time for BACIWA to somehow “swallow their pride” for the sake of the dismissed workers.
Their entitlement to their rightful wages and back wages were enshrined in the decision of CSC-Region 6, thus, it cannot simply be ignored, stresses Gamboa.
PARTIAL VICTORY
Said Gamboa, the Oct. 27, 2021 order of CSC-Region 6 was a partial victory of the illegally-dismissed workers.
“Yes, the BACIWA Board has still two more options to do – appeal the latest order before the CSC National Office in Manila and/or elevate the case before the Court of Appeals.”
The councilor, however, is confident that even if the case will be dragged to the High Tribunal, the BACIWA workers will win still.
Gamboa cites certain lines of CSC-Region 6 (in its latest decision) that says, “Mark Soliva, BACIWA General Manager, et al. has neither presented new evidence which would materially affect the CSC-Regional Office VI Decision No. 210015 promulgated on Aug. 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.”
“Even if they (BACIWA Board) do various appeals and motions still it’s a given fact that the CSC remains to be pro-employees.”
WASHING HANDS?
Prime Water’s officials, meanwhile, are reportedly washing hands on the recent decision of CSC-Region 6.
A reliable source told me yesterday that Prime Water is just okay with the decision, and is even willing to accept the dismissed workers to be reinstated.
This, as the source said, if the case drags on, it will complicate the issue of JVA and further aggravate people’s anger.
Now that CSC-Region 6 finally ordered the reinstatement of workers, so be it, the source from Prime Water told me so.
“It’s a matter of respecting the decision of CSC-Region 6, and a matter of being humble in accepting defeat after all,” added the source.
‘BULAG, PIPI AT BINGI’
For me, the BACIWA Management should refrain now from acting like “bulag, pipi at bingi”.
If they really care for the future of Mayor Bing, they have to follow CSC-Region 6’s order “by all means”.
Yes, outside perspective, this is just a simple case. But internally, this causes “internal bleeding” that may cause acute blood clot against the controversial JVA later. Thus, it’s really high-time for both BACIWA Management and Prime Water to discuss these things with seriousness.
If they want public opinion to side with them, then they have to execute CSC-Region 6’s order – reinstate the workers!
The public will just observe on the sidelines. But once the public starts to react and condemn what is about to be condemned, then, everything will be “fatal” soonest.
And if this happens, both BACIWA Management and Prime Water, I am pretty sure, will be found in the “loosing end” once the public “angst” dominates the public opinion.
THINK OF PEOPLE’S WELFARE
I can’t imagine why the BACIWA Management continues to say no to CSC-Region 6’s order.
If they heed CSC-Region 6, they will not even pay for the workers’ benefit.
Funds will still be taken from BACIWA’S coffer.
So, what’s the issue after all?
That’s why I can’t fathom their decision of playing “hide-and-seek” on the matter now.
I think they have to be more concerned of the workers’ welfare rather than themselves.
After all, they (already) have “enough” right after the JVA was consummated.
So what else?
The mere reinstatement of workers as ordered by the CSC Region 6 was very, very simple.
In fact, even the payment of their back wages will not be taken from the BACIWA Directors’ own pockets. So I can’t imagine why the BACIWA directors continue to be cynical toward the water firm employees.
Where are their hearts? Or will they continue to be “heartless” amid COVID-19 pandemic?
By golly!
I think Mayor Bing has to poke a hammer where it is needed to be poked right now. And let this current brouhaha have an ultimate ending before this will be blown out of proportion and many will be affected beyond redemption.
I am hoping and praying so!/PN
