MILLIONS of consumers nationwide are affected by the sale of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation, which controls numerous local water districts, to Crystal Bridges Holding Corp. of the Lucio Co Group—raising public concerns over the control of water, a vital public utility.
According to Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos, the transaction is alarming because control of such a critical public service has shifted to a private entity through a corporate deal conducted largely outside public scrutiny, with minimal consultation with consumers or local governments.
“Let’s be clear: PrimeWater is not an ordinary company. It directly operates local water districts, which are inherently public utilities. These water districts should not be treated like shares that can be bought and sold as ordinary assets,” Rep. Santos said.
The congressman noted that the public has long complained about intermittent and inadequate water supply, unsafe and contaminated water, delayed or insufficient infrastructure improvements, and rising rates despite poor service.
“Now we are told there is a new owner and that improvements will automatically follow. But a change in ownership does not automatically fix the system,” he added.
Rep. Santos clarified that he is not against the private sector. “We need investment and technical capacity in water infrastructure. But it’s a different matter when we’re talking about an essential service. When it comes to water, people have no choice. You can’t just tell them to switch providers,” he explained.
The Assistant Majority Floor Leader also raised a key question: if PrimeWater was sold for a high price, who will recover the costs? Consumers, through higher rates? “Will the public pay for a corporate deal they had no say in?” Rep. Santos asked.
He called on Congress not to remain silent. “We must ask: what clear protections exist for consumers during this transition? Will long-standing joint venture contracts with known issues be reviewed? How will regulators ensure that service comes first, not profit? Do local governments and water districts still have a real voice, or are they merely signing off on boardroom decisions?”
He added, “We are simultaneously facing climate change, aging water systems, a growing population, and communities still relying on water trucks. Yet water is being traded in corporate transactions. That is dangerous.”
The lawmaker urged the relevant House committees to conduct a review in aid of legislation on privatization, consolidation, and joint venture arrangements in the water sector; called on regulatory agencies to enforce rules strictly, transparently, and fearlessly for the sake of the public; and challenged PrimeWater’s new owners to prove that service matters more than profit.
“Water is life. And life should not depend solely on corporate deals. If this sale results in better service, more affordable rates, and wider access, then we welcome it. But if it leads to higher costs, weaker service, and reduced accountability, then Congress must act,” Rep. Santos said.
“We are not here to defend conglomerates. We are here to defend every Filipino family—one faucet, one community, one right at a time,” he concluded.
