BACOLOD City — The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has summoned officials of the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) and Hiraya Water Corporation to explain the reported change in ownership of the city’s water service operator and address continuing complaints over water supply and quality.
The move followed the approval of a proposed resolution authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. during the SP’s regular session on August 26.
The resolution calls for officials of BACIWA and Crystal Bridges Holding Corporation, now operating as Hiraya Water Corporation, to appear before an SP committee conference to shed light on the reported sale of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. and the transition to the new water operator.
Gamboa said the measure seeks to clarify the change in ownership and determine concrete plans to address Bacolod residents’ continuing water problems.
The original proposal called for the officials to appear before the entire city council. However, the SP amended the resolution so the matter would be taken up by the Committee on Energy and Public Utilities instead of the full council to avoid disrupting regular sessions.
The committee conference will be chaired by Councilor Roberto Rojas, with Gamboa, the resolution’s proponent, participating in the proceedings.
At the center of the inquiry is whether the change in ownership will result in improved water services for Bacolod residents.
The resolution cited continuing complaints involving intermittent water supply, dark or allegedly contaminated water, leaks and high non-revenue water losses.
Under the 25-year Joint Venture Agreement entered into by BACIWA and PrimeWater in November 2020, the private operator was tasked with helping operate and improve water services in the city.
The resolution noted that PrimeWater was publicly reported to have been sold in December 2025 to Crystal Bridges Holding Corporation, which was subsequently renamed Hiraya Water Corporation.
The SP wants BACIWA and the new operator to clarify the terms of the transaction, the date of the takeover, and whether the necessary approvals and requirements involving the Local Water Utilities Administration and the BACIWA Board were complied with.
The committee is also expected to question the water utility about plans to modernize the city’s aging water system.
Among the matters identified in the resolution are specific investment commitments for pipe replacement, reduction of non-revenue water and efforts to achieve a water supply capacity of 100 million liters per day.
The resolution also cited an estimated P1.5-billion modernization requirement for BACIWA, prompting the council to determine whether the new operator will fulfill the investment obligations expected under the joint venture agreement.
Officials will likewise be asked to present a timeline for the transition to full operations and explain how the new management intends to address water quality complaints, leaks and intermittent supply in 2026.
The council also wants an update on outstanding obligations, including payments to BACIWA and bulk water suppliers such as Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. (BBWI).
The measure cited Section 458 of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code, which empowers local legislative bodies to conduct inquiries into matters affecting the welfare of city residents, including basic public utilities.
The resolution stressed that any change in the water service operator should result in measurable improvements in water quality, reliability of supply and customer service.
For the city council, the issue is not simply who owns or operates the water utility, but whether Bacolod residents will finally see tangible improvements in the water services they receive.
Gamboa said the committee conference will give the SP an opportunity to directly question the water utilities about the ownership transition and, more importantly, demand clear timelines, investment commitments and service targets for Bacolod’s water system./PN
