The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — A water company's petition to stop local government units (LGUs) from taking over its operations has been dismissed after it failed to prove the element of urgency and its right to be protected against the LGUs efforts to address the severe water shortage in the area. The Bulacan and Las Piñas City Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) dismissed the petitions for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunctions filed by the PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. against City of San Jose Del Monte (CSJDM) led by its Mayor Florida "Ate Rida" Robes, et al. PrimeWater questioned the decision of the city government when it took over local operations through an interim management in partnership with the San Jose del Monte Water District (SJDMWD). In the first TRO petition filed by PrimeWater before RTC Bulacan, the court ruled that the water company failed to prove the element of urgency and its right to be protected against the city government’s efforts to address the severe water supply problem. During the petition hearing, the company’s branch manager admitted that it had been receiving thousands of consumer complaints due to water shortages, giving the local government the right to intervene in the worsening crisis. “To the mind of the court, the public injury to the people of the city (of San Jose del Monte) caused by the continuous problem of water availability being protected by the city is more supreme than the contractual obligations provided by the JVA (joint venture agreement),” the court said. It emphasized that the welfare of the people outweighs the JVA or contract between PrimeWater and the local water district. PrimeWater told the courts that it had around 130,000 clients but only 10,000 to 12,000 were affected by water shortages. But the city government’s assessment showed that more than 47,611 households or around 250,000 residents representing 25 percent of the city’s total population across 62 villages have been experiencing poor water distribution. The city government’s intervention has basis as it was supported by an ordinance which empowers the city chief executive during a state of emergency in water services to assume interim management of local water operations, the court said. After the Bulacan court dismissed the TRO, PrimeWater filed a similar relief before the RTC Las Piñas where its main office was located. However, the court again dismissed the petition on June 2, 2026. “The plaintiff (PrimeWater) in this case was not able to prove all requisites for the issuance of a TRO. It failed to show any grave irreparable injury unto its company, specifically its duty to provide reliable water service in the City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan,” the RTC Las Piñas said in its decision. Robes, a former lawmaker and wife of incumbent Rep. Arthur Robes, welcomed the twin rulings saying this would now give them time to focus on improving water service, correcting long-standing problems in the system, and responding to the needs of San Joseños. “This affirms the authority of the local government to act to protect the general welfare. Our people have waited long enough, and we will not allow legal maneuvers to delay urgent action,” the SJDM mayor said.
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