San juan city: Acting on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive during his State of the Nation Address, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has pledged to hold private partners accountable for failing to deliver adequate water services, affecting millions of consumers across the country.
According to Philippines News Agency, LWUA chief Jose Moises Joy Salonga announced that the agency has initiated a comprehensive strategy aimed at overhauling problematic joint ventures between local water districts and private firms. Speaking at a post-SONA conference in San Juan City, Salonga emphasized that the agency is committed to implementing a whole-of-government approach to address these issues, although specific details of the plan remain undisclosed at this time.
In his address, President Marcos highlighted that more than 6 million consumers have been affected by inadequate water services, with numerous complaints reaching his office. He stressed the importance of holding service providers accountable for neglecting their responsibilities and failing to provide essential public services.
LWUA has already submitted extensive documentation on the issue to the Office of the President. The agency has also been inundated with formal complaints and daily calls and messages, particularly on social media, regarding the water service failures.
Salonga revealed that many water districts had previously entered into joint ventures with private companies during a period when LWUA faced funding shortages. While some partnerships have been successful, others have failed, resulting in poor service and unfulfilled infrastructure investments. He noted that some private partners are now submitting “catch-up plans,” acknowledging their shortcomings.
Beyond immediate service recovery, Salonga pointed out the need to address deeper systemic issues within the country’s water regulation framework, which he described as outdated and fragmented. He expressed support for the proposed creation of a Department of Water to centralize oversight and modernize water governance. LWUA is collaborating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other stakeholders to adopt new regulatory models to improve the situation.
