San Jose del Monte (SJDM) City in Bulacan faces another legal hurdle in its bid to fix long-running water supply issues, as PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp.—part of the Villar Group—filed a new petition seeking to stop the local government’s improvement efforts. The city government confirmed receiving a ruling from the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court, marking the third time the utilities firm has taken legal action against LGU plans. The first two petitions have been dismissed, with courts ruling that public welfare outweighed PrimeWater’s contractual claims under their joint venture agreement.
City officials said PrimeWater has pursued court cases instead of collaborating to address consumer complaints. They noted the firm only delivered P748 million worth of infrastructure projects of the P6.8 billion it originally pledged, leading the local government to terminate their partnership last month. Even though the city has access to 122.3 million liters of water daily plus a 50 million liter reserve, PrimeWater’s poor distribution infrastructure remains the main cause of shortages.
But even then, the city will continue its interim water management pact with Metro Pacific Water (MPW), appointed last week under a two-month consultancy deal. MPW, chosen for its decades of experience and financial capacity, will run operations temporarily while assessing pipelines, pumping stations, and system conditions. The assessment will guide future upgrades, with a target to restore full, reliable supply within one year. MPW has allocated P3.81 billion for water system improvements this year alone in other cities, and discussions are underway for long-term projects tailored to SJDM’s needs. The city government said it will use all legal means to defend its actions and protect residents’ interests.
