By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – The fate of Villar-owned PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation now depends on the results of the ongoing probe into its supposed service failures, Malacañang said on Friday.
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) is expected to release “anytime soon” its findings report on the investigation into PrimeWater’s alleged poor service.
“Tandaan po natin, ang estimated po na sinasabing naapektuhan po ng hindi magandang serbisyo ng PrimeWater ay umaabot na po sa 16 million na katao so kailangan lang po talaga na ito’y mabilisang maaksyunan (Let’s remember, the estimated number of people affected by the poor service of PrimeWater is now 16 million, so we really need to take action quickly),” Castro said.
Bayan Muna Party-list and PrimeWater consumers on Thursday filed a formal complaint before Malacañang, calling for the cancellation of all joint venture agreements (JVAs) between the Villar family-owned private water utility firm and local water districts around the country, citing widespread service failures and legal violations.
Based on the complaint addressed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the group said the JVAs have resulted in frequent water interruptions, poor water quality, high rates, and unresponsive customer service in areas, including San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, Bacolod City, and the provinces of Quezon, Cavite, and Bukidnon.
Bayan Muna alleged that the JVAs, mostly entered into during the Duterte administration, are disadvantageous to the public and violate provisions of Presidential Decree 198, which granted operational control of water districts to their respective boards.
Asked if the Palace is open to calls to cancel the existing deal with PrimeWater, Castro said Malacañang will have to wait for the results of the investigation launched following the directive of the President.
“Kung meron pa pong mga tao na nagrereklamo, may mga ahensiya, may mga government agency na umaayon sa ginagawa ng Pangulo patungkol po sa pag-iimbestiga, particularly sa PrimeWater, iyan po ay ating wine-welcome dahil ibig sabihin, ang aksyon pong ginawa ng Pangulo ay hindi lamang po pamumulitika (If there are still people complaining, there are agencies, there are government agencies that agree with what the President is doing regarding the investigation, particularly in PrimeWater, that is welcome because it means that the action taken by the President is not just politics),” Castro said.
“Unang-una po, ang Pangulo at ang administrasyon ay naniniwala po sa due process. Hindi po tayong laging may kasabihang (First of all, the President and the administration believe in due process. We don’t always have the saying), ‘Cut the process’. So, aalamin po natin lahat, kung ano ba, kung may anomalya, kung ano ba yung pagkukulang, at kung anuman ang dapat ipahinto (So, we will find out everything, if there is an anomaly, if there is a deficiency, and if there is anything that should be stopped),” she added.
Earlier, a House resolution was filed by the Makabayan bloc, calling for a congressional probe into the JVAs between PrimeWater and over 130 local water districts nationwide. (PNA)
