Arthur Fuentes

Article (news)

Mark Villar

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— A government probe into the complaints against Villar-owned PrimeWater Infrastructure Inc. showed that the number of joint venture agreements entered into by the water firm and local water districts increased in 2019.</p><p>At that time, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) was attached to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) led by then-Secretary Mark Villar.</p><p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the statement shortly after the Office of the President met Friday with LWUA Administration Jose Moises Salonga in Malacanang to discuss the ongoing probe.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/2/palace-studying-prime-water-woes-hindi-na-pwedeng-pikit-mata-2138" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Palace studying Prime Water woes: ‘Hindi na pwedeng pikit-mata’</a></div><p>“Nabatid natin ang malawakang problema na naidulot ng kakulangan ng Prime Water. Mas dumami ang mga joint venture agreements ng Prime Water taong 2019 panahon ng nakaraang administration, at noong maiattach ito sa DPWH na noon ay pinamumunuan ni Secretary Mark Villar,” Castro said in a Palace briefing.</p><p>(We acknowledge the widespread problem caused by PrimeWater&#x27;s shortcomings. PrimeWater&#x27;s joint venture agreements increased from 2019 during the previous administration and when LWUA was attached to the DPWH that was then headed by Secretary mark Villar)</p><p>The Local Water Utilities Administration had been under the supervision of the Department of Public Works and Highways since 2011, after Executive Order 62 signed by then President Benigno Aquino III transferred LWUA to the DPWH from the Department of Health. </p><p>In 2023, the agency was placed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. under the Water Resources Office (WRMO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.</p><p>Asked for comment, Salonga noted a possible conflict of interest in the joint venture agreements entered into by PrimeWater under then-Secretary Villar.</p><p>“So let us just expound on it when the time comes,” Salonga said.</p><div><strong>MARK VILLAR: I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN PRIMEWATER DEALS</strong></div><p>In a statement on Saturday, Sen. Mark Villar said he has &quot;no direct or indirect ownership or controlling interest&quot; in his family&#x27;s water firm.</p><p>&quot;During my tenure as Secretary of Public Works, I did not participate in any capacity whatsoever in any transactions or potential transactions between PrimeWater and any of its partner districts,&quot; he also said.</p><p>He said that his focus at the time was &quot;[implementing] our national goal of creating critical community infrastructure.&quot;</p><p>Villar, son of the country&#x27;s richest man and sister of Sen. Camille Villar, said he is confident that his track record at the helm of DPWH &quot;would bear witness to that focus and commitment.&quot;</p><div><strong>LWUA: INITIAL PROBE LOOKED INTO HOW JOINT VENTURES WERE SIGNED</strong></div><p>The LWUA administrator said their initial investigation looked into how the local water utilities entered into joint venture agreements with PrimeWater, including claims that there may be possible irregularities in the deals.</p><p>Salonga said they looked into the historical context of the agreements, including potential issues and how these were reviewed during the previous administration.</p><p>He acknowledged reports of irrgularities, adding these have “also been addressed in the report and the people concerned have been put on notice that these should be considered and most likely reformed and corrected in the next few days, once we act.”</p><p>Salonga, however, clarified that they are not primarily focused on assigning blame, but on addressing the urgent water concerns of the affected areas.</p><p>“The issue now is where do we get the water and how do we deliver it to them,” he said.</p><p>“Kasama sa strategies namin, termination, compulsion, and how to put water there. We are here to act first, fingerpoint later.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/2/san-jose-del-monte-solon-to-join-house-probe-on-primewater-1803" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">San Jose Del Monte solon to join House probe on PrimeWater</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/3/house-member-seeks-probe-into-primewater-deals-services-1810" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">House member seeks probe into PrimeWater deals, services</a></div>

<p>PrimeWater entered into more joint ventures with local water districts in 2019 when the DPWH was led by Mark Villar, according to Malacañang.</p>

PrimeWater entered into more joint ventures with local water districts in 2019 when the DPWH was led by Mark Villar, according to Malacañang.

PrimeWater joint ventures increased in 2019, when LWUA was attached agency of Villar-led DPWH: Malacañang

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PrimeWater joint ventures increased in 2019, when LWUA was attached agency of Villar-led DPWH: Malacañang

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 04, 2025 04:14 PM PHT

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Updated July 05, 2025 11:09 AM PHT

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