MANILA, Philippines – While Deputy Speaker Camille Villar is headed to an election victory, granular data show her senatorial bid was decisively rejected in cities and towns that bore the brunt of PrimeWater‘s poor services.
In San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, she ranked 36th out of 66 candidates, based on partial and unofficial results from the Commission on Elections as of Tuesday morning, May 13. This is a far cry from her national rank of 10th place.
Rappler first reported back in April about the complaints of San Jose del Monte residents against PrimeWater. They said they have been grappling with ad service despite high costs.
In Dasmariñas, Cavite, another city where PrimeWater took over the operations of water district, Villar placed 33rd.
She also performed poorly in other Cavite localities where PrimeWater’s operations were flagged by the Commission on Audit: Trece Martires, 23rd place; SIlang, 22nd; Tagaytay, 20th.
She also placed below the top 20 in the following localities where PrimeWater had contracts with the water districts:
- Muñoz, Nueva Ecija: 20th
- Marilao, Bulacan: 21st
- San Rafael, Bulacan: 21st
- San Ildefonso, Bulacan: 22nd
- Malolos, Bulacan: 34th
- Agoncillo, Batangas: 22nd
- San Pedro, Laguna: 23rd
- Daet, Camarines Norte: 29th
The audit reports for these water districts operated by PrimeWwater show similar findings: joint venture agreement violations, failure to ensure uninterrupted water supply, and delays in the detailed review of the water utility firm’s performance.
PrimeWater’s shortcomings have become an election issue, with residents mounting a campaign against Camille, since her brother is Manuel Paolo Villar, who owns Prime Asset Ventures, the parent company of PrimeWater.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier ordered the Local Water Utilities Administration to investigate the utility firm, even though Villar is part of the senatorial lineup of his administration for the 2025 polls.
Makabayan lawmakers and Senator Risa Hontiveros have also called for a formal congressional inquiry into the subject.
Subsequently, PrimeWater issued a statement saying it welcomes any opportunity for an “open and meaningful dialogue” to resolve people’s concerns. – Rappler.com