Amid the ongoing investigation by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), Villar-led PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. asserted that all its existing agreements with local water districts and government entities comply with mandatory guidelines.
In a statement, PrimeWater assured that all agreements are in line with the state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), which is now the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), as well as its other partners.
For its part, PrimeWater stated that its executed agreements from 2013 to 2022 ”were approved by the respective local water districts as the implementing government entities, with the review and clearance of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC).“
It also clarified that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) does not partake in any approving process.
Currently, the company has about 75 joint venture agreements (JVAs) with water providers and some local government units (LGUs).
To recall, LWUA submitted a report regarding concerns over the services and water supply of PrimeWater.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said recently that it would release the results of LWUA’s investigation and its recommendations on PrimeWater, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s response to the findings.
Aside from the ongoing probe, the company, alongside Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) has recently activated the Matab-ang water treatment plant (WTP) in Bacolod City.
This project is anticipated to generate six million liters per day (MLD) capacity within this year, up from its current three MLD.