Employees of the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) held a prayer rally on Thursday, June 27, 2024, amid the tension caused by the ongoing conflict between COWD officials and the district’s interim officers appointed by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).
The employees wore navy blue shirts, lit candles, and brought a banner with marking ‘prayer for justice’ as they prayed for peace in the workplace.
Tension sparked after Interim General Manager Fermin Jarales issued a memorandum directing COWD General Manager Antonio Young to work from home.
“Before nako na-isyu ang maong order, aduna man gud mga papeles, records, financial in nature nga dili nato gaka-access kay tungod kini nasabtan pud nato nga si Engr. Tony (Antonio Young) iyang tahuron pud ang Board of Director nga na set-aside for his own reasons,” Jarales said.
In a video obtained by a source who requested anonymity, some employees were seen outside the Office of the General Manager asking why Young was barred from entering the office.
The move of the interim officials did not sit well with the board of directors. They said a case has been filed in court to remove the interim officials.
“Ang atong general manager considered man siya nga head of office or head of agency. Dili pwede nga manduan siya sa Interim nga mao kana ang iyang buhaton nga mag-work from home siya. Required gyud kana nga naa man mga butang nga siya lang ang makatubag, siya lang ang makapirma,” Dr. Gerry Caño, a member of the Board of Directors, said.
The interim officials said all they want is to resolve the water supply issue that stemmed from the conflict between COWD and bulk water supplier Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Inc. (COBI).
“At the level of cooperation pa gihapon kita, and then we were very clear nga kining issuance of the memorandum of work from home is for the protection of set-aside GM, Engr. Antonio Young, the employees, and myself para plastar pud ang atong organisasyon,” Jarales said.
LWUA intervened in the management of COWD and appointed the interim officials subsequently to resolve the water supply issue.
