Quezon opens broad review of water service complaints

By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino Provincial officials, local executives, and water service representatives meet during the Committee En Banc h...

By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino

Provincial officials, local executives, and water service representatives meet during the Committee En Banc hearing as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan reviews persistent water supply concerns affecting several Quezon communities. (BM Angelo P. Eduarte)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon - Every interruption in water service leaves behind more than empty taps, forcing families and communities to adjust to another day of uncertainty as unreliable supply disrupts routines across the province. Across Quezon, those continuing service problems also fueled growing demands for answers that ultimately reached the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during a Committee En Banc hearing this week.

Communities in Lucena City and the municipalities of Tayabas, Mauban, Pagbilao, and Atimonan have spent months adapting to weak water pressure, interrupted supply, and uncertain delivery schedules. Those experiences prompted local officials to bring the concerns of their constituents before the Provincial Board and seek a broader review of the province's continuing water supply situation.



The issue extends beyond the inconvenience of empty faucets and the disruption of everyday life for thousands of consumers. It also raises broader questions about the reliability of public utilities serving rapidly growing communities across Quezon and the accountability of agencies responsible for delivering water.

The Committee En Banc proceedings on July 6 stemmed from a privilege speech previously delivered by First District Board Member Julius Jay Luces during a regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. In his remarks, Luces raised concerns over recurring water shortages and reported irregularities in water distribution in areas served by the Quezon Metropolitan Water District (QMWD) and PrimeWater, prompting provincial lawmakers to conduct a more comprehensive review.

The inquiry, held at the Session Hall of the SP Building, focused on communities served through the existing partnership between the Quezon Metropolitan Water District and PrimeWater, which manages the operation, billing, and collection of QMWD concessionaire accounts. Rather than revisiting individual complaints alone, lawmakers sought the latest data, operational updates, technical explanations, and clarifications from the concerned agencies and water service providers to determine the root causes of the continuing supply problems.

From there, the proceedings shifted from identifying the problem to examining how the two water service providers have responded to persistent consumer complaints across several local government units. Provincial legislators used the hearing to seek answers that could guide future action on one of the province's most pressing public service concerns.

Provincial legislators questioned representatives of PrimeWater about persistent service interruptions, weak water pressure, inconsistent distribution, infrastructure maintenance, operational practices, and issues related to the implementation of the Joint Venture Agreement. The discussions also examined current water supply conditions, distribution practices, and the operational challenges affecting communities in Lucena City, Tayabas City, Mauban, Pagbilao, and Atimonan.

Fifth District Board Member Angelo P. Eduarte, chairman of the Committee on Environment, Climate Change, and Disaster Resiliency, presided over the proceedings and led the discussions throughout the hearing. He said provincial officials were seeking clear explanations, updated information, and a concrete plan from the concerned agencies and water service providers to address the continuing problems experienced by consumers.

Mayors, vice mayors, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, and representatives of the water districts of Pagbilao, Mauban, Tayabas, and Atimonan also participated in the proceedings alongside PrimeWater representatives. During the hearing, PrimeWater officials provided updates, answered lawmakers' questions, and responded to issues raised regarding the company's water distribution services.

Technical discussions alone could not fully explain the daily hardships experienced by residents across the affected communities and municipalities. Local government officials therefore supplemented the presentations by describing how unreliable water supply has disrupted households, businesses, schools, and other essential activities.

Several local officials also expressed frustration that the continuing supply problems have forced their local governments to respond to issues that residents expect water service providers to address. They said some municipalities have allocated local funds and undertaken emergency measures to help communities cope with prolonged service interruptions while waiting for lasting solutions.

Among those who addressed the committee was Pagbilao Vice Mayor Walter J. Dapla, who presented the concerns repeatedly raised by residents regarding delayed and inadequate water service in the municipality. He said the discussions allowed local officials to present community experiences that could help guide the Provincial Board's succeeding actions while ensuring that residents' concerns remain part of the continuing review.

Dapla said residents' concerns should guide every decision made by policymakers and serve as the foundation for long-term solutions to the province's water supply problems. He added that resolving the crisis will require sustained cooperation among local governments, water providers, and provincial officials to deliver more dependable service for consumers.

The discussions also showed that each locality faces its own operational challenges despite sharing many of the same concerns about water availability and distribution. That prompted officials from other affected areas to present approaches they believe could strengthen water distribution while addressing the specific needs of their respective communities.

Tayabas City Vice Mayor Rosauro Dalida proposed developing alternative water sources and strengthening support for the Tayabas Water Cooperative to help expand reliable water supply to more barangays. He said the proposals were intended to complement ongoing efforts to improve access to water in communities experiencing repeated service interruptions and prolonged shortages.

Dalida also told the committee that spring sources in Barangay Lalo continue to provide sufficient water for Tayabas City despite the continuing supply concerns elsewhere. He said one issue identified during the proceedings was the condition of portions of PrimeWater's pipeline network, where inadequate maintenance may be contributing to distribution problems in several areas.

Dalida emphasized that local government units and the Provincial Government of Quezon must continue working together to develop long-term solutions to the water crisis affecting their constituents. He said sustained coordination among stakeholders remains essential to providing safe, sufficient, and dependable water supply for residents throughout the province.

As presentations concluded, attention shifted from documenting the concerns raised during the hearing to determining how the Provincial Board should proceed in addressing them. Members agreed that any future action should be guided by verified information gathered from all parties involved and the discussions held during the proceedings.

Referring to the concerns he raised during his earlier privilege speech, Luces said the Provincial Board should base its actions on verified information gathered from all concerned parties before deciding on future measures. He said the Committee En Banc gave government agencies, water districts, and utility representatives an opportunity to explain the issues affecting water production and distribution before lawmakers determine the next course of action.

The hearing also discussed reports that PrimeWater's ownership had been transferred to Crystal Bridges Holdings Corporation, with lawmakers raising questions about whether the new ownership would lead to improvements in water service. Provincial legislators emphasized that consumers expect faster, more effective, and measurable responses as the review of the province's continuing water supply concerns moves forward.

Luces also emphasized that dependable access to water remains an essential public necessity affecting households, schools, businesses, and healthcare facilities throughout the province. He urged government agencies, water service providers, and local officials to continue working together in addressing the concerns discussed during the proceedings while pursuing practical and sustainable solutions.

The Committee En Banc concluded without announcing immediate policy measures following the day's proceedings and discussions. Provincial legislators said the information, updated data, and explanations gathered during the hearing will help shape recommendations and possible actions aimed at addressing the province's continuing water supply crisis.

Meanwhile, the Quezon Metropolitan Water District reminded consumers that accounts with verified zero cubic meter water consumption will not be charged the minimum water bill under QMWD Board Resolution No. 15-42. The policy covers all QMWD concessionaire accounts, including those operated, billed, and collected by PrimeWater under the existing Joint Venture Agreement.

QMWD said the exemption is intended to ensure consumers are billed according to actual water usage rather than a fixed minimum charge for periods without recorded consumption. The water district clarified that the policy applies only after meter readings, account verification, and compliance with existing QMWD procedures have been completed.