Wazzup Pilipinas!?
It took no less than the President of the Republic to uncover what Bulakenyos have known — and suffered — for years: the Villars’ PrimeWater is failing its public.
When President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited public schools in Bulacan on June 9, 2025, as part of the nationwide Brigada Eskwela campaign, he expected to see hopeful preparations for the upcoming school year. Instead, he found dry toilets, empty water tanks, and broken promises.
The President's frustration was evident as he personally inspected the restrooms at Barihan Elementary School in Malolos and Tibagan Elementary School in San Miguel. These are not just any random institutions — they are government-funded schools responsible for safeguarding the health and dignity of our youth. And yet, they had no water.
“One of the things that I noticed is the bathrooms… Kailangan na kailangan natin linisin at pagandahin ang mga bathrooms,” the President said.
“Hindi naman mahirap gawin ‘yun — except walang tubig.”
PrimeWater in the Crosshairs — Again
The culprit? A now all-too-familiar name: PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation, owned by the Villar family — the country's wealthiest political dynasty.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed during a June 11 briefing that Barihan Elementary School is under the jurisdiction of a joint venture between the City of Malolos Water District (CMWD) and PrimeWater.
The same PrimeWater whose contracts span 73 — possibly up to 130 — water districts across the Philippines. The same PrimeWater that was the target of intense criticism during the May 2025 midterm elections, directly impacting Senator-elect Camille Villar’s campaign. Camille is the daughter of former Senate President and billionaire tycoon Manny Villar, while her brother Manuel Paolo heads PrimeWater.
The Presidential Ultimatum
Marcos, dismayed by the squalid state of basic sanitation in the schools, immediately ordered the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to investigate. LWUA President Jose "Joy" Salonga has since facilitated urgent talks between CMWD and PrimeWater.
According to the Palace, PrimeWater promised to repair the pump station serving two affected barangays by June 13. They also committed to coordinate with drainage contractors to restore the damaged main water line.
But these promises ring hollow to many residents who have long experienced unreliable service — or no service at all.
“Water is expected to return to normal levels upon completion of the repair and restoration of damaged pipelines before school opening,” Castro said optimistically.
But public trust in PrimeWater has eroded — and for good reason.
The Villar Empire and the Water Crisis
The Villars have turned public utilities into private empires. Water, one of life’s most essential needs, has become a profit center under their control. And the public, particularly in underserved communities, pays the price — literally and figuratively.
From Bulacan to Cavite, from Nueva Ecija to Bukidnon, complaints about PrimeWater’s poor service, excessive billing, and mismanagement are rampant. A Rappler report earlier this year titled “Dry Taps, Darkness, and the Villars’ Prime Plague” exposed how these failures transcend geography.
Residents in affected areas speak of dry faucets, rusty water, and unresponsive customer service. Schools, hospitals, and households alike suffer — while the Villars rake in dividends.
A Broken Pump, a Broken System
Let’s be clear: this isn't just about a single pump station in Barihan. It's about a broken system where public-private partnerships are poorly monitored, where accountability is elusive, and where the most vulnerable — our students, our teachers, our communities — are the first to be neglected.
President Marcos’ inspection has, if anything, shown the value of true leadership visibility. But the bigger question remains: will these inspections lead to real reform? Or will PrimeWater’s promises go the way of countless others — down the drain?
A Call to Action: Restore, Reform, Reclaim
This issue demands more than a patch job. It calls for a national reckoning with how we privatize basic services. PrimeWater must not only fix the pump — it must face the public with transparency, accountability, and urgency.
LWUA’s upcoming report on PrimeWater’s nationwide contracts must be made public, scrutinized thoroughly, and used as the basis for decisive policy action. Local government units and water districts must be empowered to terminate abusive or underperforming contracts.
“Abangan po natin ang magiging trabaho ng PrimeWater kung tutupad sila sa kanilang pangako,” Castro remarked.
Yes, let’s wait. But let’s not hold our breath.
Bagong Pilipinas Deserves Better
President Marcos has championed the vision of a Bagong Pilipinas — a New Philippines. But as long as children sit in classrooms with filthy restrooms and dry taps, that vision remains a cruel illusion.
More school inspections, Mr. President. More accountability from water utilities. More protection for the Filipino people.
The state of our public schools is a mirror of our national priorities. And right now, that reflection shows negligence, greed, and a deep betrayal of public trust.
Let us hope it doesn’t take another presidential visit to fix what should have never been broken.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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