THE municipal government of Rosales has suspended Prime Water’s operations effective December 1 after the utility failed to meet the town’s increasing water demand, Mayor William Cezar announced.

Prime Water, owned by the Villar family, entered a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with the Rosales Water District (RWD) in late 2022 to upgrade water service and address mounting consumer complaints. However, Mayor Cezar said the company still fell short despite being given ample time to improve.

“After a comprehensive review, consultations, and documentation of consumer experiences, we have decided to terminate our partnership with Prime Water,” he said in a statement posted on the town’s official website.

The Liga ng mga Barangay earlier passed a resolution on November 26, 2025, condemning Prime Water’s “unsatisfactory and unclean” service and urging the municipal government to act against its persistent substandard performance. On the same day, the mayor issued a final notice of violation demanding a written explanation within three days.

The move is backed by a Municipal Council resolution dated August 12, 2024, directing the RWD Board of Directors to issue a notice of intent to pre-terminate the JVA due to Prime Water’s noncompliance with service obligations.

The mayor also forwarded a consumer complaint to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), requesting an investigation into the company’s inadequate service and its failure to respond to residents’ water needs.

In a separate Facebook post, Mayor Cezar assured residents that RWD will temporarily take over operations and appealed for patience during the transition. (Leonardo Micua)