BIZ BUZZ: Will MVP pick up PrimeWater assets?
Tycoon Manuel Pangilinan, a.k.a MVP, had earlier shied away from buying controversial water utility operator PrimeWater, which the group of retail magnate Lucio Co afterwards agreed to take over.
But there’s a probability that Pangilinan, through privately-held unit Metro Pacific Water, may end up picking up some of those assets in PrimeWater’s vast portfolio anyway.
From what we hear, some local government units (LGUs) whose water districts are tied to PrimeWater are growing skeptical of the “pipe dream”—notwithstanding the deal made by the Villars to sell PrimeWater to Cos’ Crystal Bridges Holding Corp. in December 2025.
“There appears to be little appetite among local governments to maintain the status quo without clear service improvements,” a well-placed source told Biz Buzz.
One of them is the local government of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, which has not renewed PrimeWater’s business permit.
Our sources lament that no concrete plans or timelines have been presented to address the persistent water supply and distribution issues to this day.
The local water district issued a notice of termination in July 2025, but operations continue because the termination is still pending arbitration by the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center.
“The city government is now undertaking strategic measures to secure a sustainable long-term solution, including due diligence for the engagement of an interim operator,” the source added.
We hear that several others, including LGUs in San Fernando (Pampanga), Dasmariñas (Cavite), Sta. Cruz (Laguna) and Rosales (Pangasinan), have also yet to issue business permits.
Especially with the El Niño dry spell alert this year, these LGUs are looking for a new savior for their respective water districts, or otherwise face the wrath of their constituent. And it’s not good, especially for local politicians seeking reelection in 2028.
Unless it’s able to resolve those concerns, Crystal Bridges, through utility arm Pamana Water, is thus seen at risk of being left with a much smaller, if not an empty bag.
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