It was the turn of water distribution corporation PrimeWater to be served a disconnection notice, albeit symbolic, as a broad coalition of consumer and sectoral organizations held a protest rally at its Mandaluyong City office this morning.
Bayan Muna Partylist and the Water for the People Network (WPN) as well as Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, Kabataan Youth Party Rep. Raoul Manuel and makabayan Coalition senate aspirant Mimi Doringo denounced the company’s reported horrendous record against its consumers as well as its role in the continuing privatization of water distribution services in the country.
“PrimeWater has failed the people. For years, residents in service areas like San Jose del Monte have suffered from dirty, undrinkable water, high rates, and water supply that comes for only two hours a day—sometimes in the dead of night,” former Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite said.
“This is a clear violation of the people’s right to accessible, clean, and affordable water,” Gaite added.
Bayan Muna said that PrimeWater’s consumers have been suffering dirty water, exorbitant rates and unreliable service for several years.
The protest action comes after the Sangguniang Panlungsod of San Jose del Monte (SJDM) passed a resolution seeking to terminate its Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with PrimeWater.
The move was welcomed by communities and advocates who have long mobilized against the company’s takeover of the once well-performing SJDM Water District.
Gaite emphasized that the SJDM case is only one example of a national crisis caused by water privatization.
“This is not just about San Jose del Monte. From Bacolod to Dasmariñas, Bukidnon to Lucena, we are seeing the same problems—poor service, higher charges, and zero accountability. This is the painful outcome when water, a basic human right, is treated as a business commodity,” Gaite said.
WPN acting spokesperson and SJDM resident Leo Espelimbergo said that since the JVA began, faucet water has become murky and supply has diminished, only available during sleeping hours.
He said that water tariffs have skyrocketed from Php200 per 10 cubic meters (cu. m.) minimum consumption and Php27 for every succeeding cu. m. to Php212 per 5 cu. m. minimum consumption and Php41 for every succeeding cu. m.
“This caused water bills to double, making it unaffordable for many SJDM residents who are mostly farmers, informal workers, and small entrepreneurs,” Espelimbergo said.
Despite mounting complaints, WPN said that PrimeWater even enjoyed super profits, since expanding to over 160 districts and municipalities nationwide.
Its net income grew from Php196 million in 2017 to Php1.18 billion in 2023, WPN revealed.
Gaite added that while Bayan Muna welcomes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s reported order to have PrimeWater’s operations investigated, he warned against attempts to whitewash the ongoing probe given how politically powerful the Villars are.
Two Villars are sitting senator while an incumbent representative is seeking another senate seat in next Monday’s mid-term elections.
“We welcome the investigation, but it must be truly independent. We cannot allow this to become another public relations stunt to protect the Villars and their political ambitions,” Gaite stressed.
Bayan Muna also called on the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) to act decisively on the termination of PrimeWater’s contract in SJDM and urged Congress to revisit and repeal policies that incentivize the privatization of basic services.
“The OGCC must listen to the people of San Jose del Monte. Their suffering is real. Their demand is just. If we continue to allow corporations to control public utilities, we are surrendering our sovereignty and our rights,” Gaite said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
