A staunch consumer welfare advocate has praised President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his commitment to take firm action against those responsible for the inadequate delivery of water services, particularly in Bacolod City.
“I commend the President’s statement highlighting the dismal state of water services in the Philippines. We believe that this acknowledgment is a crucial step towards addressing the long-standing issues plaguing the water sector,” said Wennie Sancho, convenor of the Water Watch Advocates, in a statement on Tuesday.
During his State of the Nation Address on Monday, Marcos revealed that he had personally reviewed a report from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), which detailed numerous complaints against various water districts and their private partners. He committed to taking action against those responsible for the poor water service.
The Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) entered into a joint venture agreement (JVA) with PrimeWater five years ago, allowing the Villar Group’s water utility firm to manage its operations with a pledged investment of PHP1.6 billion to enhance the city’s water supply system. However, consumers in several villages continue to experience poor service and low water quality.
In May, the Water Watch Advocates submitted a petition to the President, urging the revocation of the JVA due to its “resulting in substandard water quality, particularly turbid water, affecting the health and well-being of consumers.”
Sancho also filed a complaint with the LWUA on June 16, which was acknowledged by the agency on June 19. Following this, on July 14, the City Council’s committee on energy and public utilities, chaired by Councilor Roberto Roxas, conducted a public hearing based on Sancho’s complaint and position paper, reiterating concerns against PrimeWater Bacolod City.
“The public hearing was productive, and there was a thorough discussion of the issues and concerns. We are waiting for the release of the committee report,” Sancho added.
