HUNDREDS of City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan residents have decided to go to the streets through a peaceful protest rally as they sought for the ouster of the PrimeWater company, citing its alleged serious failure to maintain its water service.
Joined by the Akbayan Party, whose members were also mostly residents, the enraged residents held their protest action outside the concessionaire’s office and demanded for its permanent removal from the city and accountability for those responsible for the long-standing problems in its water service.
According to Akbayan-SJDM Division head Gerry Bautista, their protest action was also in support to the city government led by its mayor, Rida Robes, for taking over the local water operations through an interim operator and preventing the return of the water service to PrimeWater.
“This protest seeks to demonstrate Akbayan’s firm stand and solidarity with the people of San Jose del Monte, who continue to suffer from the failures of PrimeWater’s service.”
“We firmly believe that every citizen has the right to an adequate, safe, quality, and affordable water supply as a basic public service,” Bautista stressed.
Reiterating their call for restoration of fair, responsible, and accountable management of the city’s water service, Bautista said concerned parties and individuals must be held accountable “for the failure and neglect that caused severe hardship among residents.”
“While Metro Pacific Bulacan Water (MPWB) was granted the authority to operate on an interim basis by the local government, there are numerous technical issues at hand, which is why PrimeWater’s franchise cannot be revoked immediately.”
“This is precisely why we continue to call for PrimeWater’s ouster,” Bautista told Good Riddance.
Earlier this month, the city government welcomed the move of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to initiate an investigation into PrimeWater’s alleged irregular water testing protocols and unsanitary practices.
The probe was prompted by DENR’s finding of a potable water connection linked to the sampling line at a septage treatment facility during a joint inspection it conducted late last month MPBW.
