Joselito Malig

A resident uses water from a faucet for laundry in Manila on January 11, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Water Utility

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Among the most applauded pronouncements of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday was the commitment made by the the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to hold water districts and their partners accountable over perennial failure to ensure consumers’ access to a steady supply of water.LWUA Administrator Jose Moises Salonga said during a post-SONA forum that the two balikbayan boxes filled with complaints they submitted to the President are no exaggeration.Among the water concessionaires targeted by complaints is the Villar-owned PrimeWater, he said.“It concerns around 20 water districts who want to rescind their contract involving 77 under [PrimeWater] and 103 of all water districts with JVs (joint ventures). Hindi lang siya necessarily for Prime. It involves all water districts with JVs,” he said.Data from LWUA point to about 6.5 to 7 million Filipinos affected by poor water services in water districts that entered into an agreement with PrimeWater. Around 3 to 4 million are calling for a disengagement with the concessionaire.Among the reasons as to why Prime has encountered challenges in delivering its end of the joint venture with water districts is the lack of investments, according to Salonga.“Mayroon kasing kontrata &#x27;yan na dapat ito ang nilagak na kapital. Hindi nasunod &#x27;yun,” he said.“Ang sinabi nila, hindi pa sila nakakapag-invest. May mga sulat pa sila, for example in a water district, &#x27;we regret to inform you we are not able to provide x amount of equipment because wala pang funding from head office&#x27;,” he added.While a catch-up plan by PrimeWater is in the works, LWUA said that it is far from acceptable since problems have been experienced as far as six years back.“Bakit ang tagal? Bakit hindi kayo nag-invest? Bakit ang ingay na ng mga tao doon hindi pa kayo tumugon o gumawa ng paraan,” he said.The official also asked why, despite the steady collection of dues from consumers, that the concessionaire was still not able to invest on needed projects.Salonga assured affected residents that their priority is providing steady water supply while at the same time make sure that sanctions will be imposed on entities that allowed Filipinos to be stripped off their right to a steady access to clean water.PrimeWater has been at the receiving end of criticisms over either the lack of water or unclean supply in its service areas.Earlier this month, a lawmaker filed a resolution for a House inquiry into joint venture agreements with PrimeWater and local water districts over service issues.PrimeWater earlier said it “remains fully committed to fulfilling our obligation with partners to deliver the long-term improvements necessary for stable, reliable and sustainable water in our service areas.”It has yet to release a statement following Marcos’ fourth SONA. ABS-CBN News has also yet to receive a response from PrimeWater on LWUA&#x27;s statements.<div> </div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wLkaEJ526eQ??si=gBqbK8MDRoo6u6T2&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

LWUA Administrator Jose Moises Salonga said that the two balikbayan boxes filled with complaints they submitted to the President is no exaggeration.

LWUA Administrator Jose Moises Salonga said that the two balikbayan boxes filled with complaints they submitted to the President is no exaggeration.

LWUA: PrimeWater's poor services affect around 7 million Filipinos

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LWUA: PrimeWater's poor services affect around 7 million Filipinos

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 29, 2025 04:33 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 29, 2025 04:42 PM PHT

Read More:

PrimeWater

SONA

LWUA

Ferdinand Marcos Jr

water concessionaires

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