BACOLOD City — The Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) and the private firm managing the city’s water distribution system is now in a transition period, amid reports of a change in ownership, as stakeholders work to ensure a smooth handover and uninterrupted water services.
City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez disclosed the development during an exclusive interview with a local radio station on December 15.
Benitez confirmed that PrimeWater Infrastructure Inc. has been sold by the Villar group, with the transaction reportedly completed last Friday.
The lawmaker expressed optimism that the change in ownership would result in improved service delivery, particularly in addressing long-standing issues that affected consumers during PrimeWater’s management of Bacolod’s water system.
Benitez recalled that during his term as mayor, he identified two major concerns under PrimeWater’s operations that significantly affected water distribution and service reliability.
The first involved the city’s water source, noting that Bacolod was receiving only about 60 to 70 million liters per day (MLD), which he described as insufficient to meet the needs of households.
To adequately serve the city, he said water production should exceed 100 MLD, especially with Bacolod’s growing population and increasing demand.
The second concern cited was the lack of modernization of the water system, particularly aging pipelines and related infrastructure.
Benitez emphasized that outdated and inefficient pipes contribute to water losses and inconsistent supply, underscoring the need for comprehensive system upgrades to improve efficiency and reliability.
He said the reported change in ownership brings renewed hope for improved water services in the city, stressing that a new owner is expected to bring stronger and more sustained investments.
According to Benitez, modernizing the water system is crucial to ensuring that residents receive a safe, sufficient, and continuous water supply.
Meanwhile, PrimeWater-Bacolod and BACIWA have yet to officially confirm the reported developments following Benitez’s announcement.
BACIWA Chairperson Atty. Sonya Verdeflor said they are still awaiting official communication, adding that they learned about the reported sale only through the radio interview.
BACIWA and PrimeWater signed a 25-year JVA in 2020 to manage and develop Bacolod’s water system, which included significant investments intended to address the city’s long-standing water supply problems./PN
