Former Bacolod City Water District internal general manager Mario Macatangay yesterday said they are not withholding the release of former general manager Juliana Carbon's retirement incentive.

Macatangay said Carbon inquired about her retirement benefits and they explained that are still waiting for the legal opinion of the Office of the Government Corporate Council on the matter after former union president Ramon Lopez warned members of the Baciwa Board that he will file charges if they grant her additional retirement benefits.

Lopez had said that only rank and file employees are entitled to receive additional retirement benefits under the Collective Negotiation Agreement between the union and Baciwa.

Carbon filed her application for optional retirement effective June 17.

Macatangay said Carbon's retirement has been approved but there is a delay in the release of her benefits. However, they have already released Carbon's terminal leave pay, he said.

Once they receive a favorable opinion from the OGCC, they will release for additional retirement benefit, he added.

Macatangay said that since his stay in Baciwa is just temporary, he has to protect himself from any legal action. So they decided to seek the legal opinion of the OGC so they will have additional basis for releasing Carbon's retirement benefits.

He has requested acting general manager Jenelyn Gemora to follow up the matter with the OGCC and they were told that the counsel handling the case is already drafting her opinion and could send it to Baciwa next week, he said.

Meanwhile, Gemora said she was recommended to the Board by Macatangay to sit as officer-in-charge after his term expired on September 30, to ensure that there will be no disruption in their transactions.

She received a memorandum from the Board stipulating her responsibilities as OIC of Baciwa for one month, or until October 31, she said.

Gemora said assistant general manager for administration Samuel Penado is supposed to be designated as OIC, but he is currently on a pilgrimage in Israel.

Asked if she is interested to accept the position of general manager, Gemora said she is contented with her present assignment.

“If you apply for the position of general manager you will have no security of tenure because you will be at the pleasure of the Board.” She has been with Baciwa for 26 years, she said.

Union president Claudio Salmo said Gemora is acceptable to the union because she has been with Baciwa for many years.

But they do not know if she was given authority by the Board to transact with the banks or sign checks within the period she has been designated as OIC. As long as the release of the salaries of the employees will not be hampered, they have no concern, he said.

Macatangay said both Gemora and Penado are qualified for the position. They already wrote the Civil Service Commission to publish the position of Baciwa general manager vacant so anybody can apply.

He said he is going back to the Local Water Utilities Administration tomorrow after his term ended Wednesday.

Macatangay said they learned that LWUA approved his extension until October 31, but until Wednesday they have not received any official communication from LWUA extending his term. So he won't be able to act as IGM without its authority, he said.

He recalled that he was designate as IGM last August 2014 after there was a misunderstanding between the Board and management. But this has already been settled and everyone has to move on, he added.*CGS

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