• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Describing the performance and service of PrimeWater Infrastructure as “bad” in Cadiz City, following seven years of a joint venture agreement (JVA) with the Cadiz Water District, Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. is hoping that its sale pushes through.
Escalante disclosed on Tuesday that PrimeWater could no longer cope up with the demands of its 14,000 water consumers in Cadiz City.
The PrimeWater-Cadiz Water District (CWD) JVA is for 25 years, with 30 percent ownership retained by CWD.
Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez earlier confirmed that PrimeWater, which is owned by the family of former Senate President Manny Villar, has been sold. He, however, did not name the company that bought PrimeWater, which also entered into a JVA with the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA)
Escalante said there are investors who have expressed interest to supply bulk water, not to PrimeWater, but to CWD.
He recalled that there was a time, especially at the height of summer season, when the water supply was very low, that a state of calamity was declared due to lack of water supply.
Last month, Manny Pangilinan, chairman of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), confirmed that they are studying the possibility of acquiring PrimeWater.*
