BACOLOD City — The Water Watch Advocates has raised concerns over the reported sale of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. (PrimeWater), citing an alleged lack of transparency and insufficient public disclosure, particularly to consumers served by the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA).
Winnie Sancho, lead convenor of the Water Watch Advocates, said he is preparing a formal letter to members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) through Councilor Roberto Roxas, chairperson of the SP Committee on Energy and Public Utilities.
The letter will seek clarification on the reported change in ownership of PrimeWater, which currently operates under a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with BACIWA.
In a media interview, Councilor Roxas said PrimeWater has already been sold but declined to disclose the identity of the new owner.
Sancho said water consumers have been left “walking in the dark,” noting that while PrimeWater has announced it has a new owner, no details were provided regarding the buyer’s identity.
“This has only fueled speculation and confusion among consumers,” he said.
To address the issue, Sancho is calling for a public hearing, stressing that water services directly affect public health and welfare and therefore require full transparency.
Among the issues he intends to raise are the identity of the new owner, the current status of the JVA between BACIWA and PrimeWater, the decision-making process behind the reported transfer of ownership, and assurances that consumers’ interests remain protected.
Sancho emphasized that while the JVA between BACIWA and PrimeWater is a public document, the reported sale was allegedly carried out without the knowledge or consent of water consumers.
He questioned who authorized the transaction and why it proceeded without public participation, drawing parallels to the signing of the original JVA, which he said was also undertaken without sufficient consultation.
The Water Watch Advocates said the call for a public hearing aims to dispel growing public perception that the sale of PrimeWater lacked transparency and was done surreptitiously, reiterating the group’s demand for accountability and openness in matters involving essential public utilities./PN
