THE Iriga City Water District (ICWD) through the Board of Directors (BOD) headed by Gaudencio Asanza, questioned the legality of performance bonus granted to its employees in the amount of P10,000 each, regardless of their employment status.

        General Manager Perfecto Ignatius Chua-Cheng, in a radio interview, disclosed that the issue at hand was contained in a show-cause order dated December 28, which he received five days later.

        The GM further disclosed that the BOD’s order gave him 72 hours to answer why he should not be charged for ordering and causing the release of fund for the payment of year-end benefits to ICWD employees without the approval and authorization of the board.

        “I don’t know what’s their basis, but as far as I’m concerned I have not done wrong and it’s up for them if they will accept my answer or file another administrative case against me,” Chua Cheng stressed.

        He even cited administrative order 213 of the office of the President, particularly, section 7 which states: that said order shall take effect immediately.

        As long as the parameters are met, approval coming from the BOD or Resolution to that effect for the release of the performance bonus is no longer needed, he pointed out.

        The GM and the BOD’s fickle relationship started when Asanza’s group sacked Chua-Cheng for alleged loss of trust and confidence, in the early part of 2006.

        Four months later, the GM was able to regain his post on order of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) granting all the salaries and benefits that he was supposed to receive from the day he was terminated until his reinstatement.

        An ICWD employee who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the BOD’s show-cause order was a desperate move which appeared to be rooted on disappointment as the Board members were not entitled to receive performance bonus.

        Asked what he would do if somebody ordered him to grant performance bonus to the members of BOD, the GM’s response was clear: “Yes, why not? Provided that such order will come from the Local Water Utilities Administration.”