In case nobody heard of it in San Pedro City, Laguna, PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation has a new boss – and a new name.
Following the takeover of the water distributor chain by business tycoon Lucio Co’s Crystal Bridges Holding Corporation, the company formerly known as PrimeWater has been rebranded last June to Hiraya Water Corporation.
“Hiraya,” by the way, is old Tagalog for “desire” or “wish.”
And the wish of the millions of consumers who had suffered from PrimeWater’s subpar service for years is nothing more than a stable supply of clean water.
Unfortunately, in San Pedro City, consumers of Hiraya won’t be getting that wish fulfilled for a considerable time soon.
Leaks, again!
Last August 13, Hiraya Water Corporation consumers in San Pedro City once again woke up to the ultimate nightmare: no water coming from their taps.
In an advisory the same day, the corporation (which, by the way, hasn’t changed the PrimeWater name on its social media account), disclosed that several barangays in San Pedro City under its watch will experience low water pressure to no water at all.
Particularly affected were residents of Bagong Silang, Estrella, Laram, Narra, San Vicente, United Bayanihan, Calendola, Langgam, Magsaysay, Riverside, San Antonio, United Better Living, Chrysanthemum, Maharlika, Southern Heights 1, 2 and 2A, Harmony Homes, and Maligaya 5 and 6.
The reason: a major leak at its 12-inch transmission pipe under the National Highway in Barangay Landayan.
That leak happened to be located right at the busy intersection of the Pacita Complex commercial district, causing not only disrupted water service but also heavy traffic in an already congested area.
The most recent incident happened two months after another leak occurred near a gasoline station along the National Highway, causing major disruptions in PrimeWater’s water service at the hottest time of the year.
Transition what?
Speaking of which, both San Pedro Water District (SPWD), which entered into a joint-venture agreement with the former PrimeWater, and Hiraya Water Corporation have been strangely silent on the issue of the transition of management.
There has been no official word from either SPWD or Hiraya on how to address the long-term issues of low water pressure, dirty water coming from their pipes, and exorbitant fees charged to consumers who had to pay for no water at all.
Given that Lucio Co himself had pledged P500 million to improve water service in Quezon province, where Hiraya (er, PrimeWater) has also entered into JVAs with local water districts, it’s perplexing that residents of San Pedro have been left in the dark regarding how Hiraya intends to step up its services.
Will the promise of clean, potable and stable supply of water be just another wish in the wind for San Pedrenses?
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