Malacañang yesterday announced that the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has launched an investigation into PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. (PrimeWater) in response to consumers’ complaints even as it dismissed claims that the probe is politically-motivated.
“The investigation has already started today, led by LWUA,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said during a Palace press briefing.
The inquiry comes amid widespread criticism over PrimeWater’s service performance, particularly in areas with joint venture agreements between the company and local water districts.
According to Castro, complaints have been pouring in from provinces such as Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Bohol, and Pangasinan.
“There are people literally crying over the water situation in these areas,” she said.
“PrimeWater reportedly has 73 joint venture agreements with local water districts, so this will be a deep and comprehensive investigation,” Castro added.
As this developed, the PCO official sharply rebuked Vice President Sara Duterte for claiming that her endorsement of Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar motivated the probe on the Villar-owned water distribution firm.
It can be recalled that Villar accepted the Vice President’s endorsement despite her being on the administration’s Alyansa ng Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate.
Castro accused Duterte of “resorting to politics” instead of confronting issues of grave importance to the public.
“We cannot expect anything nice or any nice word from the Vice President in favor of the President and of the present administration,” Castro said, adding that Duterte often defaults to “pamumulitika” (politicizing) without directly answering substantive questions.
Castro stressed that PrimeWater customers have long been complaining about the company’s services.
“This is not a new issue,” she said.
“What’s puzzling is why it wasn’t resolved during the previous administration, especially since PrimeWater flourished in 2018 under former President Duterte,” the Palace spokesperson added.
Castro urged the Vice President to elevate the discourse.
“If she wants to argue or engage in a public discussion, let’s base it on reason and data, not insults or profanity,” she stressed.
“The investigation into PrimeWater is not politicking. When people are crying out, the government is obligated to act,” Castro added.
When asked about potential sanctions on PrimeWater should the investigation confirm lapses, Castro said it was premature to discuss penalties.
“We will provide updates as the investigation progresses,” she said.
“We want to thoroughly examine all the facts and see what issues may have been concealed or need further scrutiny,” Castro added.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is also expected to play a role in assessing the extent of consumer grievances related to water service reliability and quality.
Meanwhile, the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas said concerns over PrimeWater’s services must be addressed through proper and transparent channels, stressing that access to clean water is a basic need that warrants urgent and fair review.
“Public concerns over water service—whether involving a local utility or a private provider like PrimeWater—deserve to be addressed through proper and transparent channels,” Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, Alyansa’s campaign manager, said in a statement.
“Clean and reliable water is a basic need, and any service issues must be reviewed fairly and with urgency,” he added.
The broad political alliance issued this statement even as it maintained that Rep. Villar remains in its senatorial ticket.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Palace: Government begins probe into PrimeWater woes.”