Hiraya Water's rebranding has not resolved persistent water supply issues for Bulacan residents, raising concerns over management and accountability.
Hiraya Water Corp., formerly known as PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation, still grapples with serious water supply issues, underlining that a name change doesn’t always equate to effective solutions.
In San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, the fallout from inadequate water service remains palpable. Senator Raffy Tulfo highlighted that over 47,000 households continue to experience frequent interruptions and receive discolored water months following the acquisition of PrimeWater by Lucio Co’s Crystal Bridges Holding Corp.
“Nung pumasok ang PrimeWater, ‘yung ganda ng serbisyo ng water district…nawala,” said Irene del Rosario, a local resident and former councilor, during a Senate committee session.
Her statement captures the sentiment that when PrimeWater took over, the quality of service from the local water district declined significantly.
Back in 2018, the San Jose del Monte water district entered a joint venture agreement with PrimeWater prompted by an unsolicited proposal from the private entity. This agreement was allegedly approved without public consultation, leaving residents unaware that their water service would transition to a private company.
“Walang public consultation. Hindi alam ng taumbayan na ang tubig namin ay iliipat na sa isang private concessionaire…[Ngayon], ganun pa rin, as expected,” del Rosario remarked.
Local frustrations have boiled over, leading to a city government takeover of water services previously managed by Hiraya Water. Metro Pacific Water (MPW) stepped in as the interim operator, but even they admitted a significant shortfall, reporting a daily deficit of around 70 million liters to meet the city’s requirements.
Roberto Rey Rodrigo, MPW’s legal head, acknowledged the challenges they face, stating that resolving these issues would necessitate a long-term commitment that goes beyond short-term fixes.
This ongoing dissatisfaction manifested visibly during a local sports event on August 23, where frustrated residents chanted “Tubig! Tubig! Tubig!” to bring attention to their water scarcity. Akbayan Councilor Ronalyn Pordan noted, “They shouted ‘Water!’ because we really have no water.”
Senator Tulfo scrutinized Hiraya Water for failing to address these persistent issues, questioning their corporate structure. He pointed out that their business history included operations far removed from water service, citing a SEC record that indicated their backgrounds in “restaurants, parlors, beer houses and snack bars.”
“Nagbago na ang owner ng PrimeWater, pero patuloy pa rin ang reklamo,” Tulfo expressed.
While acknowledging that Crystal Bridges isn't responsible for the existing problems, he stressed that acquiring a company entails inheriting all its liabilities, including unsatisfied customer expectations.
Understanding the Transition
Hiraya Water emerged from PrimeWater, a water services provider owned by the Villar Group, which previously partnered with over 77 districts countrywide. Following the takeover, these contracts were supposed to transfer to Hiraya Water. However, Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed that at least eight water districts are now looking to exit their joint venture agreements due to ongoing service failures.
During legislative discussions, Hontiveros probed whether Hiraya Water would consider penalties for water districts seeking to unilaterally terminate their contracts.
“Mayroon pong procedure set in place and signed by both parties and was cleared by regulatory bodies. Sana sundin ‘yun,” said Hiraya Water president Jose Paulino Santamarina, stressing the need for adherence to established procedures.
The situation took a more complex turn as the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) center disclosed that Hiraya Water didn’t secure the consent of any of its 77 water districts before the acquisition. In the absence of formal notifications, these districts are now unclear on their contractual responsibilities.
Even private subdivisions like La Poblacion in San Jose del Monte are pressing for a release from their agreements with Hiraya Water. Resident Charlie Marciano voiced the sentiment of many, asserting, “I-turnover ‘nyo na kami sa water district, ‘yun lang ang solution dun.”
The question soon becomes: Is anyone truly listening to the outcry of these communities? – Rappler.com
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