Manila: The City Council has summoned officials from both the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and Hiraya Water Corp. to attend a committee conference. This comes after Hiraya Water Corp. recently assumed operations from PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. as the city's water service provider.
According to Philippines News Agency, Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. authored a resolution that was approved during the regular session on Wednesday. The resolution requests both firms to appear before the committee on energy and public utilities to discuss the sale of PrimeWater and outline their plans for improving water services in Bacolod City.
Gamboa noted that there is no need to send a formal letter to the companies, as they will be provided with a copy of the resolution and informed of the scheduled committee meeting. He stated, "There is no need to send a letter. They will just be furnished a copy of the resolution and informed of the scheduled committee conference." The initiative is a collaborative effort by the City Council, with the committee on energy and public utilities, chaired by Councilor Bobby Rojas, taking the lead.
On August 4, PrimeWater Bacolod City updated its Facebook cover photo to reflect its new identity as Hiraya Water Corp. Bacolod City. Hiraya Water emerged from the acquisition of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. by Lucio Co-led Crystal Bridges Holding Corp., which completed a 100-percent buyout late last year.
Councilor Gamboa emphasized the need for transparency, stating, "The public deserves to know what does the sale of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. mean for Bacolod consumers." He stressed that residents of Bacolod need clarity on the plans to enhance the reliability, accessibility, quality, and efficiency of their water services and what changes they can anticipate moving forward.
The previous provider, PrimeWater Bacolod City, had faced numerous complaints regarding its service quality, including reports of "dark, smelly, and contaminated water," frequent service disruptions, and questionable financial practices. Local consumer welfare groups have continued to advocate for improved water services, especially following the confirmation of PrimeWater's acquisition by another company, now identified as Hiraya Water.
