Mark Villar denies PrimeWater ties amid probe on ‘poor’ services

Senator Mark Villar on Saturday issued a statement denying any ownership or involvement in the operations of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., amid renewed attention on public-private partnerships in the country’s water distribution sector.

"I wish to take this opportunity to clarify that I have no direct or indirect ownership or controlling interest in PrimeWater," he said.

PrimeWater, owned by Mark Villar’s brother Manuel Paolo and part of their parents’ Villar business empire, is being investigated by Malacañang after widespread complaints about poor service over the years.

In a weekend press briefing, Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Administrator Jose Moises Salonga pointed out that the ongoing investigation of the water company might cover a “possible conflict of interest” involving former DPWH Secretary Mark Villar.

“Kasi po there was a time that LWUA was an attached agency to DPWH na possible conflict as mga namumuno ‘dun so let us just expound it when the time comes (Because there was a time when LWUA was an attached agency to the DPWH, which could have led to a possible conflict involving its leaders, so let us just expound on it when the time comes),” Salonga told reporters.

Villar, who led the DPWH from 2016 to 2021, emphasized that he had no involvement in any transactions between PrimeWater and its partner water districts during his time in office.

“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,” he said.

Meanwhile, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro noted an increase in PrimeWater’s joint venture agreements in 2019.

“Mas dumami ang mga joint venture agreements ng PrimeWater taong 2019 panahon ng nakaraang administrasyon at nung mai-attach ito sa DPWH na noon ay pinamumunuan ni Secretary Mark Villar (There was an increase in PrimeWater’s joint venture agreements in 2019, during the previous administration, when it became attached to the DPWH, which was then led by Secretary Mark Villar),” Castro said.

Villar defended his record, pointing out that his focus while in government service was on advancing critical infrastructure projects across the country.

“My focus then had been to implement our national goal of creating critical community infrastructure. I have full faith that my service record in those years would bear witness to that focus and commitment,” he said.

The senator’s statement comes amid discussions in Congress about the performance and accountability of water concessionaires, with some lawmakers calling for greater oversight of public-private partnerships in essential services.in essential services.