PrimeWater
 | |
| Company type | Privately-held / Public utility |
|---|---|
| Founded | August 10, 2006 |
| Headquarters | , Philippines |
Number of locations | Around 100 partnered water districts (2021) |
| Services | Water infrastructure development, delivery sewerage and sanitation |
| Owner | Manuel Paolo Villar |
| Parent | Prime Asset Ventures |
| Website | primewatercorp |
Primewater Infrastructure Corporation (dba as PrimeWater) is a water and wastewater services provider in the Philippines. It is a subsidiary of Prime Asset Ventures, Inc.[1] The company is associated with the Villar business and political family which includes former senators Manny and Cynthia Villar.[2][3]
History
[edit]PrimeWater was established on August 10, 2006. In five years, it has expanded its reach to cover areas across the Philippines in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.[4]
Water in the Philippines are supplied by water districts which are government-owned which often deals with funding issues. This led to them entering into public private partnerships to develop their water supply capabilities. Among this private firms is PrimeWater,[5] which continued to expand in the 2010s by entering joint venture agreements (JVAs) with state-owned water districts.[6]
By 2021, PrimeWater controls 100 water districts out of the more than 500 districts in the Philippines according to the Local Water Utilities Administration.[3]
In 2023, the Commission on Audit noted lapses on PrimeWater's JVAs with Dasmariñas, Silang, Tagaytay, Trece Martires, and Malaybalay water districts.[7][8]
In May 2025, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) began investigation on PrimeWater over its alleged poor services and high cost heading to an order by President Bongbong Marcos.[1][9] This is despite Marcos' inclusion of Camille Villar in the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas electoral alliance ahead of the upcoming 2025 Philippine general election.[2] The investigation also examined alleged conflicts of interest involving Mark Villar, who was a secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways when PrimeWater's JVAs was significantly expanded in 2019 while LWUA was attached to the department.[10]
Service areas
[edit]
By 2021, PrimeWater entered into joint venture of operations with 100 water districts in the Philippines according to the Local Water Utilities Administration.[3] Water districts by law cannot be sold to private corporations, hence PrimeWater develops these areas under a joint venture agreements (JVAs)[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Marcos to order probe of PrimeWater". BusinessWorld. April 30, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ a b Oliquino, Edjen (May 2, 2025). "Camille Villar still admin bet despite Marcos' PrimeWater probe". Daily Tribune. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ a b c Miraflor, Madelaine. "Prime Water has taken over 100 water districts". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ "About Us". PrimeWater. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ "Down the drain: Philippines water joint ventures stir anger". Eco-Business. Thomas Reuters Foundation. August 15, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ Espino, Allen (2020). "Problematizing Privatization: How Private Takeover of Local Water Districts Impacts Gender Mainstreaming" (PDF). Philippine Journal of Social Development. 13. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ de Leon, Dwight (April 15, 2025). "In Cavite, elections spotlight residents' longstanding woes with Villars' PrimeWater". Rappler. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
- ^ G, Herbie (July 17, 2023). "COA urges Malaybalay water district to take back control from Villar firm". RAPPLER. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "TV Patrol: LWUA iniimbestigahan ang Primewater dahil sa mga reklamo". ABS-CBN News. May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ Buan, Lian (July 4, 2025). "PrimeWater probe covers 'possible conflict' of DPWH under Mark Villar". Rappler. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ "Primewater boosts services of water districts". Manila Bulletin. May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2025.