Pagbilao pushes long-term measures to address water crisis

By Nimfa L. Estrellado Vice Mayor Walter “Wally” Dapla and officials from the Quezon Metropolitan Water District inspect a potential water s...

By Nimfa L. Estrellado

Vice Mayor Walter “Wally” Dapla and officials from the Quezon Metropolitan Water District inspect a potential water source site in Pagbilao, Quezon as part of plans to expand water distribution and address recurring supply shortages in several barangays. (Wally Dapla)

PAGBILAO, Quezon - For more than a week, water interruptions have strained households across several barangays in Pagbilao. Residents relied on rationed deliveries and stored water as supply weakened in communities served by PrimeWater.

The municipal government of Pagbilao pushed emergency repairs and long-term water projects during the recent session of the Sangguniang Bayan of Pagbilao. Complaints over weak supply centered on barangays Palsabangon, Binahaan, Malicboy and Pulo.



Officials of the Quezon Metropolitan Water District outlined repair, rehabilitation and expansion works intended to restore distribution in underserved areas. The discussions also covered possible new water sources, including rivers, watersheds and reservoirs, as demand continued to rise across the municipality.

Vice Mayor Walter “Wally” Dapla said the municipal council repeatedly pressed for updates on the proposed pre-termination of the joint venture agreement between QMWD and PrimeWater. He said the council passed a resolution last year supporting the move after service failures triggered complaints from residents.

“Last year pa lang po, nagpasa na po tayo ng resolusyon sa loob ng Sangguniang Bayan na sumusuporta sa pre-termination ng JVA sa pagitan ng QMWD at PrimeWater,” Dapla said. “Makailang beses na rin po natin itong binuksan sa ating regular session para kumustahin ang estado ng pre-termination subalit wala pa rin pong kaliwanagan.”

Dapla said the dispute over the agreement remained between QMWD and PrimeWater because local government units did not sign the contract. He added that the municipality continued to demand improvements in water service despite having no direct role in the agreement.

The municipal council and the QMWD management and planning team also inspected a potential water source site tied to plans for expanding water services in Pagbilao. Officials said the project seeks to establish a distribution network in barangays still struggling with unstable supply.

The inspection led to discussions on the rehabilitation of QMWD-owned water mainlines from Barangay Bigo to the town proper. Officials linked aging sections of the system to recurring service interruptions in several communities.

Several affected barangays have experienced recurring low pressure and unstable supply even before the latest interruptions worsened. The continuing complaints pushed the municipal council to approve additional resolutions tied to repairs, rehabilitation and service expansion.

The council also approved resolutions seeking repairs of damaged pipelines and expansion of water services in affected areas. Municipal leaders said the water crisis now reflected deeper failures in infrastructure capacity and long-term planning.

Dapla said the municipal council also pushed separate resolutions urging QMWD to step in on projects and repairs that PrimeWater could no longer carry out. He said the move came as residents continued to endure weak supply and repeated service interruptions in affected barangays.

“Habang hinihintay po natin na magkaroon ng development sa usapin ng pre-termination ng JVA, tayo po ay nagsulong ng iba pang resolusyon kung saan hinihiling natin na mag-step in na ang QMWD sa mga gawaing hindi magampanan ng PrimeWater,” Dapla said. “Base po sa ating pakikipag-usap sa pamunuan ng QMWD, sila na po ang gagampan sa iba’t ibang pagawain kagaya ng repairs, rehabilitation at source development.”

According to Dapla, Councilor Ariel Martinez joined water rationing operations in selected areas of Pagbilao to ease pressure on affected residents. The vice mayor said the local government would continue monitoring the situation while waiting for movement on the rehabilitation projects and the unresolved joint venture dispute.

The shortage has evolved into both a public service failure and a political test for agencies handling water distribution in Pagbilao. Residents who have endured years of weak supply now wait to see whether the latest inspections, resolutions and repair plans will produce steady water from household taps.