The former president of the Workers Union of the Bacolod City Water District yesterday slammed the firm for the non-release of their Emergency Cost of Living Allowance despite a Supreme Court Resolution 14 years ago for it to do so.

Rodolfo Maligmat said he has not received his accumulated ECOLA amounting to about P75,000 since he retired from the firm in 1999. Maligmat said there about 20 other retired BACIWA employees who are yet to receive their ECOLA. He said there are about P5 million total of collectible ECOLA.

Maligmat added that while the retired employees are waiting in vain for their ECOLAs, the BACIWA workers who are still in active duty are receiving their P600 monthly allowance.

He lamented that some of those retired employees who had not received their allowances have already died, while some are seriously ill.

A source from BACIWA, who requested anonymity, told the DAILY STAR the retired employees have not yet received their ECOLA because there are still legal questions about it.

The source added that although the release of the ECOLA has been approved by the members of the Board of Directors, it was not properly examined by the authorities yet.

Meanwhile, about 100 members of Metro Bacolod Customers Forum, a consumers group, staged a rally outside the BACIWA office yesterday protesting the sixth seat of its board.

Maligmat, vice president of the group, said the 6 th member of the board is no longer necessary as it will just be an additional expense for the utility firm.

Earlier, BACIWA director Marichi Ramos had requested director Fr. Ernie Larida of the Diocese of Bacolod Social Action Center to consult the members of the BACIWA Board first before requesting for the appointment of a sixth member to the board.

Ramos said the term of Yolanda Zaragoza, who represents the Local Water Utilities Administration in the BACIWA Board, will end this week. She was appointed as the sixth member of the Board on July 3, 2013.*APN

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