The Water for the People Network (WPN), together with various organizations opposing the privatization of water services, launched a cultural protest called “Water! A song! A poem, a speech against privatization and for rights” on June 4 in front of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in Quezon City.

The groups Water Systems Employees Response (WATER), Association and Network of Consumers for National Development (SUKI Network), Migrante, COURAGE, Alliance for Consumer Protection, and Bayan participated in the event.

WPN demanded accountability from Prime Water Infrastructure Company, which is owned by one of Philippines’ largest bourgeois compradors, Manny Villar. The company currently faces dozens of complaints and JVA terminations from water district boards because of insufficient and poor quality water and high service fees.

During the protest, Mimi Doringo of Kadamay read a poem while Joseph Cabellos of People’s Rights Network – San Jose Del Monte delivered a statement. Leo Espelimbergo, spokesperson of WPN and Sining Kanlungan, performed the song “Tubig!”

The group also sent an open letter to LWUA and various government agencies to demand the following: 1. make public the contracts of the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA); 2. help facilitate the termination of JVAs by local water districts that wish to end their contracts; 3. represent and consult consumers in the investigation process on harmful JVAs and their nullification; and 4. to stop all plans for the privatization of public goods and services such as water.

WPN promised to launch regular cultural protests and hopes that similar activities will take place nationwide to further broaden the campaign against the privatization of water services.

Currently, about 75% of over 100 local water districts have JVAs with PrimeWater across the Philippines. Some local water districts have already filed notices to pre-terminate their JVAs, such as those in San Jose Del Monte, Calumpit, Malolos, and Marilao (Bulacan); Trece Martires, Silang, and Tagaytay (Cavite); Lucena (Quezon); Subic (Zambales); San Fernando, Angeles, and Mabalacat (Pampanga); Daet, Mercedes, and Basud (Camarines Norte); Bacolod (Negros Occidental); and others in Pangasinan, Bohol, Leyte, and Bukidnon. The Metro San Fernando Water District of La Union has already ended its JVA with PrimeWater and immediately resumed management of water services, but this also stopped after the Regional Trial Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order based on PrimeWater’s appeal.