Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan hold a protest in Quezon City on July 18, 2025 to demand the release of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) probe into the operations of PrimeWater. 

They are calling for the termination of PrimeWater contracts “because of the company’s failure to deliver adequate service despite charging exorbitant rates.” and they are 
demanding the reversal of privatization of water districts across the country since they alleged that this has “resulted in grossly expensive water rates which undermined access to a basic right.” 

Full Press Release – Bagong Alyansang Makabayan led a protest in front of the Local Water Utilities Administration to condemn the failure of authorities to deliver water to communities serviced by PrimeWater despite an earlier assurance that the problem will be immediately addressed.

LWUA has already submitted its probe to Malacañang but its content has yet to be disclosed to the public, which is highly unusual given its public importance and urgency.

We suspect that the PrimeWater issue will be used by Marcos Jr in his upcoming state of the nation address to impress his listeners. The people’s water woes should not be hostaged by a president who is desperate to gain instant approval for his unpopular administration.

PrimeWater has to be immediately directed to deliver water now. Its accountability should not be hidden in secret negotiations. Access to water is a basic right and should not be subjected to bureaucratic delays and political compromises.

At the minimum, the LWUA probe should be released to the public. This should be followed by the publication of all PrimeWater contracts which need to be scrutinized because of the widespread outcry over the company’s negligence in delivering affordable water to its customers.

Bayan is demanding the reversal of privatization of water districts across the country since this has resulted in grossly expensive water rates, which undermined access to a basic right.

The PrimeWater scandal reflects the failure of privatization while highlighting the scourge of corruption and corporate greed. It is a reminder of how bureaucrat capitalism has benefited those in power and their cronies while the majority of our people are made to suffer.

Bayan enjoins fellow Filipinos to denounce the inaction, incompetence, and corruption of the Marcos Jr government.

We demand the scrapping of privatization programs as we call for the immediate delivery of basic social services in our communities.

(Photos by Jimmy A Domingo for Mata: Asia Press Photo)