Progressive groups and consumers picketed the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) office following the removal of General Manager Mona Dia G. Jardin, calling for the scrapping of the joint venture agreement (JVA) with Villar-owned PrimeWater.

Led by the Bacolod City Water District Employees Union (BEU), Amlig Tubig, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Negros, the groups said Jardin’s removal was a “small but significant victory,” but warned that the larger fight against privatization continues.

“From the very start, Jardin acted as PrimeWater’s most eager operator inside BACIWA,” Bayan Negros said in its statement, adding that she “functioned less as a general manager of a public utility and more as PrimeWater’s loyal mouthpiece.”

The board resolution, approved Friday, declared the “expiration of the term of office” of Jardin and appointed Michael M. Soliva as acting general manager and concurrent head of BACIWA’s Environment Water Resource Sewerage and Sanitation Management Division.

Board chair Sonya Verdeflor, vice chair Edgardo Uychiat, and corporate secretary Clarissa Araneta signed the resolution, while director Lorendo Dilag voted against and Rich Ann Zayco abstained.

Verdeflor said the general manager’s term “depends upon the trust and confidence of the board,” which she said Jardin had lost due to her failure to sanction PrimeWater despite deficiencies and violations of the JVA.

The resolution also cited Jardin’s handling of a P34-million land purchase for a proposed BACIWA eco-park, which was paid in full despite the lack of required government clearances and before land titles had been transferred.

Jardin, however, rejected the board’s decision, saying in a letter that she was “not vacating and will not vacate” her post, arguing that the resolution was “illegal, null and void” and that she could only be removed through a formal complaint, hearing, and investigation under Civil Service rules.

Protesters meanwhile called for the reinstatement of 59 dismissed regular employees, which the Civil Service Commission (CSC) had already ordered but which management has yet to implement.

BEU president Leny Espina said, “The reinstatement order still has not been acted upon by management despite the CSC ruling.”

Consumer watchdog Amlig Tubig echoed the call, with Christian Weber saying the Sangguniang Panlungsod has been requesting BACIWA’s financial and monitoring reports since 2019 but “these have yet to be provided.”

According to Bayan, Jardin oversaw the dismissal of workers, ignored health warnings after water tested positive for E. coli, and allowed rising rates “padded by PrimeWater’s 12% VAT.”

In an exclusive interview after the protest, Soliva said he is willing to reinstate the employees as ordered by the CSC but noted that the payment of full back wages requires certain protocols from the Commission on Audit (COA).

On Jardin’s refusal to vacate her post, Soliva said, “Even I was shocked that the board vested in me this position. I trust what the board has agreed upon, as they are BACIWA’s main policy makers.”

He added that under the JVA, BACIWA now functions primarily as an overseer.

Bayan challenged Soliva to rescind the JVA with PrimeWater as his first act and reinstate the terminated employees.

The group also urged Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and the Bacolod City Council to take a stand, noting Councilor Wilson Gamboa had already raised concerns over the JVA.