MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 29, zeroed in on the worsening state of water services across the country, taking aim at underperforming government water districts and their controversial joint venture partners—most notably PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., owned by the Villar family.
In a sharp rebuke during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), the President called out the failure of these partnerships to deliver on their promises of efficiency and improved service.
“Paano tayo uunlad kung mismong tubig ay hindi maayos ang daloy? Hindi sapat ang dahilan. Kailangan may managot,” Marcos said, emphasizing that access to clean and reliable water is a basic human right, not a luxury.
Consumer groups and local government units have long complained about PrimeWater’s performance since taking over operations in several towns and cities through joint ventures with local water districts.
“PrimeWater didn’t invest in their joint venture agreements with water districts,” consumers said. “So instead of improving water service, it became more miserable.”
In many areas, residents have reported low water pressure, frequent supply interruptions, and higher fees—with no visible upgrades to infrastructure. Some localities have already filed for the termination of joint venture contracts with PrimeWater, citing breach of agreement and failure to deliver basic service standards.
President Marcos ordered the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to conduct a full audit of all water utilities and joint venture operations. He also pushed for a review of existing public-private partnership (PPP) contracts to determine whether these arrangements truly serve public interest—or merely allow private profit at the people’s expense.
“These ventures were meant to improve water delivery, not to exploit public resources,” the President stressed.
Marcos also warned that service providers who continue to underperform may face legal action or contract termination, and reiterated that the government will not tolerate negligence when it comes to such an essential public service.
“This isn’t just about inconvenience,” he added. “It’s about health, dignity, and survival—especially in a country where climate change is already straining our water systems.”
The President’s statements reflect growing national outrage over water service privatization failures and signal a broader push for reform and accountability in the country’s water sector.