Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution in the Senate seeking a full investigation into the reported joint venture agreements (JVAs) between local water districts and private companies, citing serious concerns flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) to be “disadvantageous”, on Monday, May 5.
In filing Senate Resolution No. 1352, Hontiveros directed the Senate Committee on Public Services to investigate the complaints and issues surrounding deals involving firms such as PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation, Manila Water Philippine Ventures, and Metro Pacific Water Investments Corp.
"No one is too big to be investigated. Kailangan nang silipin ang mga water concessionaires na ito dahil masyadong maraming kababayan natin ang uhaw na uhaw na sa maayos na serbisyo mula sa kanila lalo na ngayong tag-init," Hontiveros said in a video statement.
The resolution stemmed after COA audit reports flagged multiple irregularities in the agreements, including concerns about legality, economic viability, and adverse impacts on service quality and water tariffs.
"These identified problems have reportedly led to detrimental outcomes for water districts, including diminished financial standing (as seen in the San Jose Del Monte Water District post-JVA) and for the consuming public, who have experienced poor service quality, inadequate water supply, and significant increases in water tariffs ( as reported in areas served by PrimeWater in various provinces like Bulacan and cities like Bacolod ) sparking public protests and calls for intervention," Hontiveros said in the resolution.
Hontiveros emphasized the importance of safeguarding essential public services, particularly water supply, and stressed the need to uphold the public interest in light of COA’s audit reports.
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang papatak-patak na serbisyo. Hindi pwedeng palagpasin ang mga kontratang sinlabo ng tubig na lumalabas sa ilang mga kabahayan na biktima ng kapalpakan ng mga water concessionaires at ng oversight bodies,” Hontiveros stated.
The senator warned that 11 water districts may end their joint ventures, noting the issue could be more serious.
Additionally, Hontiveros stressed the urgent need to review the existing framework governing water district joint ventures, strengthen regulatory oversight, and empower both water districts and consumers.
"Reklamo ng mga kababayan natin, sinisingil pa rin daw sila kahit halos walang tubig ang dumadaloy sa kanilang gripo. Panahon nang singilin naman natin ang mga water concessionaires at iba pang ahensyang dapat nagbibigay ng walang-patid na serbisyo," Hontiveros concluded.
These issues have reportedly sparked public protests and calls for urgent intervention.
The governor and vice governor of Bulacan recently raised concerns about Prime Water, owned by the Villar family, and called for a Senate probe.
