Arthur Fuentes

Residents queue for water at Barangay 101 in Manila on January 11, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Water Utility

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div> </div>MANILA — Being one of the most affected localities, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan’s lone district representative said on Tuesday that he will participate in the upcoming house probe into the franchise of Villar-owned PrimeWater.The water concessionaire is under fire for its poor water service in many cities and municipalities where it has entered into a joint venture agreement (JVA). Among the complaints against PrimeWater are the persistent lack of water supply, and murky water discharged from faucets.“Isa ako sa naimbitahan at nasama sa investigation team na gagawin ng Kongreso pagdating dito sa pagbibigay ng prangkisa sa PrimeWater. Once nagstart na yung session, which is after the SONA (State of the Nation Address), doon umpisa yan,” said Congressman Arthur Robes at the sidelines of the inauguration and oath-taking of newly-elected SJDM officials.According to Robes, who was city mayor when PrimeWater entered the picture in 2018, PrimeWater’s performance was okay during the first few years but then it all went downhill from there.“For a time, nung unang dalawa, tatlong taon medyo okay pero siyempre komo luma na, sira na rin ang ating existing tubo or whatsoever, unti-unti nang nababago until dumating yung ika-6 year na supposedly dapat maganda na e hindi pa, napasama pa. Basta palagi naman nilang sinasabi aayusin, it will take time, and they have already invested almost a billion pesos. Hindi naman namin alam yun,” he said.He supports the termination of the deal to give way to a better water supplier. But because the local government unit is not a party to the contract, he said they cannot do this unilaterally.“Okay sakin ang i-terminate. Kung merong ibang player na mag-take over ay mas okay sa amin para mas mabigyan pa ng pansin at mas mapaganda pa yung services ng tubig dito. Even the Board of Directors of the water district is pro-termination already,” he said.His wife, former SJDM Congresswoman and now mayor Florida Robes, also doubts that PrimeWater can still handle the city’s growing population. She said even the local government unit is already struggling to provide free water tanks and lorries just to make up for concessionaire’s shortcomings.“Dati when they started mga 300,000 lang kami noon e. Ngayon nasa 869,000 ang population namin so kahit anong catch up plans mo, pag hindi mo sinabayan yan every year, I don’t think so na kakayanin,” she said, noting that businesses operating in the city have also significantly grown.The city’s new chief executive said SJDM already has its own task force to look into the issue, but she welcomed Malacañang’s initiative to also launch its own investigation, through the help of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and other agencies.“Happy kami na nabibigyan ng Malacañang ng pansin yung problema namin sa tubig. Kasi kami, two years ago pa, sumulat na kami sa Pangulong Bongbong Marcos about this,” she said.“Nakikiusap kami sa lahat ng ahensya na pumapailalim o kasama ng joint venture agreement ng aming concessionaire, which is Prime, na sana mapag-aralan mabuti kung ano ang dapat at sana maibigay yung para sa amin. Kung hindi ito kayang ibigay, palagay ko the Office of the President, LWUA and NWRB (National Water Resources Board) and MWSS (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System) and the OGCC (Office of the Government Corporate Counsel) should already find a solution,” she said.There will also be a local water summit to be held in SJDM tomorrow, July 3, 2025.

He supports the termination of the deal to give way to a better water supplier.

San Jose Del Monte solon to join house probe on PrimeWater

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Business

San Jose Del Monte solon to join house probe on PrimeWater

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 02, 2025 06:03 PM PHT

Read More:

ABSNews

PrimeWater

Villar

San Jose Del Monte

water supply problem

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.