On Malacañang probe due to poor service
(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY — Water consumers from this city and nearby towns have welcomed Malacañang’s decision to investigate Prime Water Infrastructure Corp. following mounting complaints over poor service.
Prime Water, which entered a 25-year joint venture with the Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD) in 2019, took over operations previously handled solely by the water district. The partnership was intended to improve water services for over 50,000 customers.
But residents say conditions only worsened.
“They are giving us poor service. Not only is the water supply insufficient, but it also smells bad,” said Marlyn Olimpo, a resident of Tacloban City. “I have to wake up very early almost every day because water only comes out of the tap during those hours.”
Olimpo expressed hope that the investigation ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would finally lead to better service.
In Sta. Fe town, a resident who declined to be named shared a similar complaint.
“There are times when we have no water at all, yet our bill has gone up to over P3,000 a month—from just P600 before,” she said.
The Freedom from Debt Coalition-Eastern Visayas also voiced support for the probe.
Regional coordinator Fara Diva Gamalo reiterated their opposition to the privatization of public utilities, especially water services.
“Regulation should be the responsibility of the state, not of private companies whose goal is profit,” Gamalo said. “As long as it’s profit-driven, the focus will never be on service.”
She called on Malacañang to expand the investigation to include all areas served by Prime Water, saying the situation in Tacloban mirrors those in other parts of the country.
Prime Water also operates the water district in Maasin City, Southern Leyte, which has more than 5,000 consumers—many of whom have also raised complaints about poor service.
The Leyte Samar Daily Express sought comment from LMWD-Prime Water, but had not received a response as of press time.
But in past statements, the company has said it remains committed to improving service, including replacing aging pipelines and rehabilitating facilities.
LMWD-Prime Water also services the towns of Palo, Tolosa, Tanauan, Jaro, Sta. Fe, Pastrana, Tabon-Tabon, and Dagami.
Water sources include rivers in Barangay Tingib (Dagami) and Barangay Hibunawan (Jaro), as well as Lake Danao in Ormoc City, and the Hinabayun and Binahaan rivers in Jaro.
JOEY A. GABIETA
