Consumers of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. and the Bayan Muna Party-list submitted a complaint letter to Malacañang on May 8. It aims to urge Ferdinand Marcos Jr to scrap all joint venture agreements (JVA) or partnerships of local water districts in the country with PrimeWater of the Villar family because of its numerous failures and legal anomalies.

The consumers, former employees of water districts, and Bayan Muna third nominee Ferdinand Gaite brought the letter to Malacañang. The groups laid out three demands in the letter.

First, they demand that Malacanang issue an executive order to begin the process of cancelling all JVAs with PrimeWater. Second, return the leadership and management of water services to the Local Water Utilities Administrations (LWUAs). And third, investige the process of approving these JVAs and disclose whether PrimeWater’s corporate income tax is being passed on to consumers.

In addition, they also called on the government to stop entering into contracts and agreements with the private sector that are disadvantageous to the people. “Immediately provide quality and affordable water for all! The people first, not profit, not business!” the group declared.

Before this, parties and groups led by the Water for the People Network (WPN) held a protest on May 6 at the PrimeWater office in Mandaluyong City. They condemned the Villar family for its blatant profiteering in water services.

Consumers also brought a symbolic “disconnection notice” to end the JVA of PrimeWater with the local government of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. The city’s water service has been under the JVA for seven years and only recently did local officials issue a resolution to scrap it because of poor service.

Gaite said this is not just an issue in San Jose del Monte. “From Bacolod to Dasmariñas, Bukidnon to Lucena, we are seeing the same problems–poor service, higher charges, and zero accountability,” he said.

The former legislator further emphasized that the Philippines is experiencing the “Villarization” of water service. “This is the painful result at a time when water, a basic human right, is being treated as a business,” he said.

PrimeWater’s profits grew even as water service continued to deteriorate and rates increased. In 2023, the company’s profit rose to ₱1.18 billion from ₱196 million in 2017. PrimeWater now controls water service in at least 160 municipalities and districts in the country.

After the protest, Makabayan Coalition representatives filed a resolution in the House of Representatives to investigate the JVA of PrimeWater in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and other local water districts. Gabriela Women’s Partylist’s Rep. Arlene Brosas, ACT Teachers Partylist’s Rep. France Castro, and Kabataan Partylist’s Rep. Raoul Manuel filed the resolution.