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 |
| Parent | Prime Asset Ventures |
Primewater Infrastructure Corporation (dba as PrimeWater) is a water and wastewater services provider in the Philippines.
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.[1]
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,[2] which continued to expand in the 2010s by entering joint venture agreements (JVAs) with state-owned water districts.[3]
By 2021, PrimeWater controls 100 water districts out of the more than 500 districts in the Philippines according to the Local Water Utilities Administration.[4]
In 2023, the Commission on Audit noted lapses on PrimeWater's JVAs with Dasmariñas, Silang, Tagaytay and Trece Martires water districts.[5]
In May 2025, the Local Water Utilities Administration began investigation on PrimeWater over its alleged poor services and high cost heading to an order by President Bongbong Marcos.[6][7] 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.[8]
Service areas
[edit]By 2021, PrimeWater controls 100 water districts in the Philippines according to the Local Water Utilities Administration.[4] Water districts by law cannot be sold to private corporations, hence PrimeWater develops these areas under a joint venture agreements (JVAs)[9]
Management
[edit]PrimeWater is a subsidiary of Prime Asset Ventures, Inc.[6] The company is associated with the Villar business and political family which includes senators Manny and Cynthia Villar.[8][4]
References
[edit]- ^ "About Us". Prime Water. 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.
- ^ a b c Miraflor, Madelaine. "Prime Water has taken over 100 water districts". Manila Bulletin. 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.
- ^ a b "Marcos to order probe of PrimeWater". BusinessWorld. April 30, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ "TV Patrol: LWUA iniimbestigahan ang Primewater dahil sa mga reklamo". ABS-CBN News. May 2, 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.
- ^ "Primewater boosts services of water districts". Manila Bulletin. May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2025.