MANILA, Philippines – Labor leader and senatorial candidate Leody de Guzman on Monday, April 21, told Dasmariñas residents, customers of Villars’ water utility firm PrimeWater, that they should form water cooperatives.
“Mas maigi kung silang consumers din ang mag-manage ng mga basic services ng kanilang komunidad kaysa sa mga bilyonaryong korporasyon na tubo lang ang interes at hindi serbisyo,” said De Guzman.
(It would be better if the consumers themselves will manage the basic services of their community instead of billionaire-owned corporations that only have profit in mind and not service.)
A water cooperative is made up of members who are the water users themselves. They usually operate as nonprofit corporations.
Transferring to another water utility firm is not a guarantee of better water service, De Guzman said in a dialogue with residents on Monday.
“Hangga’t ang akses sa tubig ay patuloy na pinagtutubuan, mauulit nang mauulit ang kalbaryo ng mga taga Dasmariñas,” he said.
(As long as access to water remains profit-driven, the ordeal of Dasmariñas residents will continue.)
Rappler recently published a report on PrimeWater’s bad service experienced by Bulacan residents. Disgruntled residents complained of intermittent water service and high costs.
Meanwhile, De Guzman cited an audit report flagging PrimeWater’s joint venture agreement with the water district for unreliable water supply and non-maintenance of infrastructure.
De Guzman and Luke Espiritu, fellow senatorial bet from Partido Lakas ng Masa, launched their Senate bids criticizing traditional politicians and political families.
The Villar family has interests in real estate, land development, and retail. The patriarch, Manny Villar, is the Philippines’ richest man and is a former senator himself. Cynthia Villar is on her last term in the Senate and is seeking the congressional seat in Las Piñas. House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar is running for a Senate seat, while her brother, Mark Villar, is midway through his first term as senator.
Rappler’s Dwight de Leon had asked senatorial candidate Camille Villar about PrimeWater’s issues in Cavite which Rappler published on April 15. He also sent a message to the customer care email address of PrimeWater, asking why Commission on Audit reports for water districts in Cavite flagged the joint venture agreement violations involving the firm. They have yet to respond. We will update this story once we get their side. – Rappler.com