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Members of an inter-agency coordinating committee conduct a walk through on July 15, 2024, as the House of Representatives prepares for the coming State Of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 22. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

CONGRESS-SONA

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- A House resolution calling for the cancellation of “onerous” or burdensome and profit-driven joint venture agreements (JVA) between Villar-owned PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. and local water districts.was filed on Tuesday, July 8.</p><p>ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio and Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co filed House Resolution 35, also seeking a probe into PrimeWater amid complaints of “non-potable and intermittent supply of water, and unreliable billing and meter reading system.”</p><p>“So nandito po ang Kabataan party-list, ACT Teachers party-list, Makabayan bloc kasama ang mga consumer groups, ang mga water rights groups para i-file itong resolution na ito, imbestigahan na ang PrimeWater. At sa puno’t dulo gusto nating mangyari, ma-cancel ‘yung mga agreements na hina-handle ng PrimeWater,” Co said prior to filing.  </p><p>There are over 77 JVAs in the country under PrimeWater, many of which were formed during Sen. Mark Villar’s previous term as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), according to Tinio.</p><p>“So seemingly may conflict of interest dito. Kasama ito sa iimbestigahan batay sa ating resolusyon,” Tinio said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/4/primewater-joint-deals-rose-in-2019-during-villar-led-dpwh-malaca-ang-1614" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PrimeWater joint ventures increased in 2019, when LWUA was attached agency of Villar-led DPWH: Malacañang</a></div><p>The senator earlier denied being involved in the JVAs, saying he had no direct or indirect ownership in the corporation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/5/mark-villar-denies-influence-in-primewater-deals-while-dpwh-chief-1258" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark Villar denies influence in PrimeWater deals while DPWH chief</a></div><p>While Malacañang has said it is looking into service complaints against PrimeWater, the resolution said the executive department’s action to investigate was “not enough” to stop the “suffering of the affected consumers.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/8/palace-spox-denies-making-insinuations-vs-mark-villar-on-primewater-deals-1445" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Palace spox denies making insinuations vs Mark Villar on PrimeWater deals</a></div><p>Referring to reports received from PrimeWater customers, Co said, “Ang tulo naman ay papasok lang ng around 10 p.m. Mawawala ulit ng 4 a.m. na napakalaking inhustisya sa mamamayan. At ito’y mga violations sa right to safe, drinkable water na dapat natatamasa nating lahat.”</p><p>Resolutions calling for an investigation were also filed in the 19th Congress, but these remained at the committee level.</p><p>Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun similarly filed a measure last week for a House inquiry into the JVAs.</p><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>A House resolution calling for the cancellation of “onerous” or joint venture agreements between Villar-owned PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. and local water districts.was filed on Tuesday.</p>

A House resolution calling for the cancellation of “onerous” or joint venture agreements between Villar-owned PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. and local water districts.was filed on Tuesday.

Solons eye scrapping of ‘onerous’ joint ventures between PrimeWater, local water districts

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Solons eye scrapping of ‘onerous’ joint ventures between PrimeWater, local water districts

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 08, 2025 05:02 PM PHT

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