• THERESA MAE DULMAN
A significant operational issue has been uncovered at Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA)-PrimeWater, as Bacolod City Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. said he discovered that the water provider operated for the past three years without a valid business permit.
Gamboa revealed the discovery after initiating a resolution on August 12 requesting Mayor Greg Gasataya to issue a show-cause order to PrimeWater Infrastructure Inc. on why its business permit shouldn’t be suspended for its failure to provide clean, potable, and adequate water to Bacolod residents.
He found that the company had been operating without a business permit since 2022 and only secured a permit on September 3, 2025.
“The fact that they don’t have business permits for the past three years, a cease-and-desist order should’ve been issued,” he said.
Gamboa is now questioning the legality of the situation, specifically why the utility was allowed to continue its operations for years despite lacking the required permits while the small businesses were being closed down for the same violation.
The councilor previously stated his intent to push for the suspension of the water provider’s business permit.
“Clearly the contract, by itself, is already gravely and grossly disadvantageous to the water district, for the city, and to the consumer members,” Gamboa said.
His current efforts also include attempts to review the financial statements of BACIWA-PrimeWater
Gamboa added that BACIWA is one of around 45 LGUs across the country who want to cut ties with PrimeWater due to bad service and breach of contract.
“They were only able to comply with 3 percent of their commitment to the Joint Venture Agreement,” he added.*
