From left: Vincent Co, Leonardo Dayao, Manuel B. Villar, Jr., Lucio Co and Manuel Paolo A. Villar. | ALLTV News FB
The Water for the People Network (WPN) warned that the sale of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. by business magnate Manuel Villar to tycoon Lucio Co does not resolve the long-standing issues of water privatization in the Philippines. Instead, the group said, the transaction reinforces the deep harm inflicted on Filipino consumers, who continue to suffer from high rates, unreliable supply, and poor service.
For an undisclosed amount, Co—best known for his Puregold supermarket chain—acquired PrimeWater through Crystal Holdings Inc. The deal comes amid mounting public outrage and ongoing state inquiries into PrimeWater’s 77 joint venture agreements (JVAs) with local water districts nationwide.
“The transfer of PrimeWater from one oligarch to another does not change the fact that consumers continue to suffer from high water rates, unreliable supply, and dismal services,” said WPN spokesperson Leo Espelimbergo.
Espelimbergo stressed that Villar’s family remains accountable for years of service failures, despite repeated public clamor and termination efforts by water district boards and local officials. He added that consumers deserve compensation through bill moratoriums, refunds, and other forms of redress.
The group criticized the Marcos administration for failing to act decisively, despite public pronouncements about holding PrimeWater accountable. WPN noted that no affected area has yet recorded the full restoration of safe, reliable 24/7 water service, even after the Local Water Utilities Administration’s investigation was reportedly approved by Malacañang.
“The sale merely perpetuates privatization and the JVAs’ grave violations of consumers’ rights to basic needs and redress,” Espelimbergo said.
WPN also pointed to Co’s own Pamana Water Company, which holds at least 15 JVAs in Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, and the Zamboanga Peninsula. The firm has faced consumer complaints over poor service, including low to no water supply in Nueva Ecija and discolored water in Tarlac, alongside rate hikes in Pangasinan.
“Pamana is no saint,” Espelimbergo remarked. “Like PrimeWater, consumers have criticized Co’s firm for entering previously well-performing water districts and delivering substandard service while imposing higher rates.”
According to WPN, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Law and earlier privatization policies have enabled private profiteering from essential services. In Metro Manila, water rates have surged by as much as 1,500% since privatization, while rates in JVA-covered districts have doubled—yet access, quality, and efficiency remain unresolved.
Espelimbergo said public clamor has forced oligarchs to settle among themselves while government officials stood by with “empty pronouncements,” leaving consumers’ grievances unanswered. He emphasized that the fight to reclaim public control of water services must intensify.
WPN called for the immediate restoration of water services in all affected areas, the termination of onerous JVAs, and an end to water privatization altogether. The group expressed solidarity with consumers and local governments working to reclaim public control of water districts.
“Ibalik ang tubig sa publiko ngayon! Responsibilidad ng gobyerno ang serbisyo sa tubig!”the group declared. (ZIA LUNA)
