Palace to review results of PrimeWater probe

Metro Manila, Philippines - Malacañang will hold a high-level meeting on Friday to review the initial findings on the probe on mounting complaints against a water utility owned by a politically influential and wealthy family, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed on Wednesday, July 2.

In a Palace briefing, Castro said Malacanang had just received the initial batch of documents from the Local Water Utilities Administration’s (LWUA) on the alleged poor services in a number of localities of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation owned by the Villar family.

"Ako ay nagkaroon ng kopya – isang folder at dalawang boxes; isipin ninyo po iyong isang balikbayan box – dalawa noon," Castro said.

[Translation: I got a copy—one folder and two boxes; imagine, two balikbayan boxes.]

She said the Friday meeting will focus on determining the appropriate response from the government.

Castro assured consumers that the government is acting on the issue with urgency.

"Hindi po ito tinutulugan ng gobyerno… Para sa inyo po ito," she said.

[Translation: The government will not ignore this… This is for your benefit.]

PrimeWater has been under scrutiny for unreliable supply, lack of infrastructure improvements, and rising consumer dissatisfaction in a number of provinces.