Mark Villar denies hand in PrimeWater-LWUA deals as DPWH chief
Senator Mark Villar on Saturday denied that he had any participation in joint venture agreements (JVAs) entered into by PrimeWater and other local water districts facilitated through the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), when it was still an attached agency of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during his term as secretary.
"I wish to take this opportunity to clarify that I have no direct or indirect ownership or controlling interest in Primewater," Villar said in a statement.
"During my tenure as Secretary of Public Works, I did not participate in any capacity whatsoever in any transactions or potential transactions between Primewater and any of its partner districts. My focus then had been to implement our national goal of creating critical community infrastructure," the senator added.
Villar was the chief of the DPWH from 2016 to 2021 during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Villar resigned from the post to seek a senatorial seat in Eleksyon 2022.
PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. is owned by the Villar family.
The senator issued the statement after Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro reported that JVAs between PrimeWater and other local water districts increased in 2019, noting that the DPWH during that time was led by then-secretary Villar.
Castro added that the Office of the President held a meeting Friday with the LWUA and the Office of The Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) to discuss the current situation of PrimeWater consumers.
Saying that his tenure in the DPWH was aligned with the goal of creating critical community infrastructure, Villar said, "I have full faith that my service record in those years would bear witness to that focus and commitment."
LWUA Administrator Jose Moises Salonga earlier said the agency already finished its initial investigation into the complaints against PrimeWater JVAs, and that its findings and recommendations were already submitted to the office of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
Salonga had said the LWUA was previously an attached agency of DPWH, and the possible conflict may be linked to the previous officials of these offices.
Marcos earlier ordered an investigation into the operations of PrimeWater due to numerous service-related complaints.
Meanwhile, a resolution has been filed in the House of Representatives seeking an inquiry into the JVAs entered into by PrimeWater and local water districts.
For its part, the water service provider had vowed to be open to any meaningful dialogue that would resolve concerns as it also affirmed it is committed to cooperating with LWUA. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
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