TACLOBAN CITY – Water concessionaires in this city welcomed the move of Malacañan Palace to order an investigation into the operations of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation (PWIC), following mounting complaints of poor service quality.

“It would be good if this investigation pushes through—maybe we’ll finally get some help,” said Lorna Sabusao, a resident of Kapuso Village and a PrimeWater customer since 2014. She shared that while water still flows from their faucets, the supply is irregular and sometimes comes out discolored.

“It’s really difficult when there’s no regular water supply—the sink and toilet get filthy,” Sabusao said, adding that despite the unreliable service, her monthly water bill reaches nearly P800.

Jessica Bahinting, a resident of Barangay 106 Sto. Niño, also expressed support for the investigation ordered by Malacañan, saying consumers like her deserve transparency on how PrimeWater computes monthly billing charges.

Bahinting, who sells water atP4 per container, said she was shocked to receive a bill of over P11,000—significantly higher than her previous bill of P8,600—despite experiencing frequent water interruptions in the past month.

PrimeWater entered into a 25-year joint venture agreement with the Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD) in 2019, with the goal of reducing system losses and improving water service in Tacloban City and the towns of Palo, Sta. Fe, Tanauan, Tolosa, Tabontabon, Dagami, and Pastrana.

The agreement, valued at over P6 billion, covered the financing, development, rehabilitation, expansion, and operation of the water supply and septage management systems.

However, five years into the agreement, LMWD general manager Ronnie Cornico announced that the LMWD Board of Directors had decided to terminate the partnership, citing PrimeWater’s failure to deliver on key service commitments outlined in the contract.

Cornico said several complaints had already been filed with PrimeWater, but these were seemingly ignored. He also emphasized that the investigation ordered by Malacañan is not politically motivated, despite PrimeWater being owned by the Villar family.

“This is not about politics,” Cornico said. “There are just too many customers and water districts raising the same concerns about PrimeWater’s poor service.”

Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre also weighed in, saying President Marcos’ action is a matter of good governance.

“The fact is, it’s a public utility,” Acidre said. “Regardless of who owns or runs the concession, they have a responsibility to ensure regular monitoring and assessment of operations. The president is simply upholding the law.”

Acidre added that being a public utility, PrimeWater should be subject to routine inspections and evaluations—even before problems arise.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

To avoid any poll-related violence

TACLOBAN CITY – With concerns of possible election-related violence, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the region has intensified security measures in Leyte’s 3rd and 4th congressional districts, deploying additional personnel ahead of the May 12 national and local elections.

On Monday, May 5, the PNP Regional Office deployed 237 personnel across the region to bolster local police forces, secure polling centers, and maintain order during the elections. A significant portion of these reinforcements—104 personnel—were sent to Leyte, with particular focus on its 3rd and 4th districts, which have been flagged as areas of concern.
Brig. Gen. Jay Cumigad, regional police director, said that while the entire region is under watch, the situation in parts of western Leyte demands heightened attention.

“These districts have been classified based on the likelihood of election-related violence. We have increased our security complement in those areas accordingly,” Cumigad said in a press briefing.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has placed Palompon and Albuera (4th district) and Villaba (3rd district) under the yellow category, which indicates a history of political unrest.

Meanwhile, the towns of Leyte, Calubian, San Isidro, and Tabango in the 3rd district are under the more serious orange category, signaling the presence of armed groups that may attempt to influence the polls.

The concern has grown following a recent slay attempt on Rolan “Kerwin” Espina, a controversial figure and self-confessed drug personality now running for mayor of Albuera—a town under close scrutiny due to its volatile political climate.

To address these risks, the PNP has set up election command centers in critical areas, deployed radio communication systems in far-flung communities with poor signal reception, and installed CCTV cameras in strategic locations for better surveillance.

In addition to the deployed field units, 127 personnel from the Regional Reactionary Standby Support Force (RRSSF) remain on standby, ready for rapid deployment in case of emergencies or unrest in any part of the region.

“We are on full alert. All leaves are cancelled and personnel are in place until the conclusion of the electoral exercise,” Cumigad said.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to ensuring peaceful, honest, and credible elections, particularly in areas historically prone to political violence.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Tingog party-list Representative Jude Acidre has expressed full support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to investigate PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., citing the need for stronger accountability from companies operating essential public utilities.

“As a representative of the Waray people—and as consumers of PrimeWater services—I fully support the President’s directive to initiate an investigation,” Acidre said.

In response to the directive of Pres. Marcos’ order, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has launched an official probe into PrimeWater this month following growing complaints of poor service delivery and high rates.

Acidre emphasized that public utilities, regardless of ownership, must be subject to regular scrutiny to ensure they meet service standards.

“Whether it is privately or publicly run, a public utility must be regularly monitored and assessed—even before issues arise,” he said. “Being granted a public franchise comes with responsibilities. The President is simply enforcing what the law already requires.”

He dismissed suggestions that the investigation is politically motivated, saying that public accountability must take precedence, especially when political figures are involved in business operations.

“Some say this is political because PrimeWater is owned by politicians. But isn’t that more reason for them to uphold higher standards of service?” Acidre said. “Public trust must be earned and maintained, especially when basic needs like water are at stake.”

The investigation comes amid rising dissatisfaction from local water districts, including the Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD), which recently moved to terminate its joint venture with PrimeWater over alleged violations of their agreement and service shortcomings.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)