The rebranding from PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation to Hiraya Water Corp. hasn't alleviated ongoing water supply challenges in Bulacan.
Residents in San Jose del Monte City continue to experience significant service interruptions and issues with discolored water, which have persisted despite the company’s recent ownership change. Senator Raffy Tulfo, chair of the Senate Public Services Committee, highlighted that over 47,000 households are affected.
“Nung pumasok ang PrimeWater, ‘yung ganda ng serbisyo ng water district…nawala,” stated Irene del Rosario, a former city councilor and long-time resident. She testified that the service quality of the local water district deteriorated since the joint venture with PrimeWater was initiated back in 2018.
Del Rosario recalled that the agreement with PrimeWater was signed without public consultation, leaving residents unaware of the transition to a private operator. “Walang public consultation. Hindi alam ng taumbayan na ang tubig namin ay iliipat na sa isang private concessionaire…Ngayon, ganun pa rin, as expected,” she lamented.
The situation has led the city government to intervene, taking control of the water service in March. Shortly after, they enlisted Metro Pacific Water (MPW) as an interim operator to manage the water supply. Roberto Rey Rodrigo, MPW's head of legal, acknowledged a considerable shortfall in meeting the city's daily water needs, estimating a deficit of about 70 million liters.
“Unfortunately, to take on such a monumental task would require a long-term concessionaire,” Rodrigo added, underscoring the complexity of the challenges ahead.
On August 23, local residents vented their frustrations at a community event, chanting “Tubig! Tubig! Tubig!” when they saw Mayor Rita Robes and Congressman Arthur Robes. “Sumigaw sila ng ‘Tubig!’ Kasi wala talaga kaming tubig,” reported Akbayan Councilor Ronalyn Pordan, reflecting the urgency of their demands for reliable water supply.
Senator Tulfo flagged Hiraya Water for its ongoing service deficiencies while noting discrepancies in the company’s corporate documentation, questioning its prior submissions that included businesses unrelated to water services. “Nagbago na ang owner ng PrimeWater, pero patuloy pa rin ang reklamo,” he remarked, implying that ownership change hasn't addressed core issues.
While acknowledging that Crystal Bridges, the new owner, didn't cause these problems, Tulfo pointed out the burdens of inheriting existing contracts and obligations that plague the company. “Pero kapag bumili ka ng kumpanya, hindi lang assets at revenue ang kasama. You inherit the existing contracts, debts and obligations, pending cases, unfinished commitments, and consumers na galit na, uhaw pa,” he emphasized.
Impact on Water Districts
PrimeWater had partnered with over 77 water districts before its rebranding, and under Hiraya Water, the existing joint venture agreements remained in effect. Yet, Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed that eight water districts are considering exiting the partnership due to unfulfilled service commitments.
During a legislative inquiry, Hontiveros raised concerns over whether Hiraya Water would take legal action against these districts if they sought to terminate their contracts. “Mayroon pong procedure set in place and signed by both parties and was cleared by regulatory bodies. Sana sundin ‘yun,” assured Hiraya Water president Jose Paulino Santamarina.
However, without the formal consent of water districts concerning the acquisition, the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel has indicated that these districts could unilaterally terminate their contracts, as they were not adequately informed of the ownership change.
Additionally, private subdivisions, including La Poblacion in San Jose del Monte, have appealed for an exit from their water service agreements, with resident Charlie Marciano stating, “I-turnover ‘nyo na kami sa water district, ‘yun lang ang solution dun,” affirming residents' desire for a return to municipal management of their water supply.
As complaints continue to mount, the question remains: will these grievances prompt meaningful change, or will the cycle of discontent persist among residents? – Rappler.com
