BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Tension broke out Monday outside the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) – PrimeWater office after terminated BACIWA employees were barred from entering the premises and told their gathering required a permit.

Members of the BACIWA Employees Union, led by union President Leny Rojo-Espina, attempted to enter the BACIWA/PrimeWater compound on May 18 to submit a complaint letter related to their long-running labor case. Video from Aksyon Radyo Bacolod showed guards closing the gate as the group tried to enter.

Espina said the former employees did not intend to cause disorder and only wanted their complaint received. She said they were also consumers and should have been allowed access to the water district office. Espina also expressed disappointment that police were sent to the area instead of BACIWA’s general manager or board of directors facing the workers.

The copy of the complaint the terminated workers aimed to pass to the BACIWA-PrimeWater board

Photo Source: Leny Rojo Espina

Fifty-nine former BACIWA employees were removed from their posts after BACIWA entered into a 25-year joint venture agreement with PrimeWater Inc. in 2020. The workers have maintained that their termination was illegal because they were permanent employees covered by civil service protections.

The employees had reportedly planned to hold a peaceful protest to demand compensation and fair labor treatment. The same report said the workers were seeking payment under a compromise agreement that required BACIWA to pay more than ₱123 million in back wages, allowances and benefits by Jan. 30, 2026.

Police Maj. Rondyl Tapang, chief of Police Station 1, said officers responded after receiving a report of protesters at the BACIWA/PrimeWater premises. He said police only sought to maintain peace and order in the area and had no intention of interfering in the legal dispute between BACIWA/PrimeWater and the union.

A Civil Service Commission resolution was officially declared last April 13th declaring executory two earlier CSC rulings involving backwages and placement consideration for former BACIWA workers.