Tapped Out

This report provides an exhaustive analysis of the systemic issues surrounding the operations of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation (PrimeWater), a major private water utility in the Philippines. Triggered by a groundswell of consumer complaints and culminating in a national-level investigation ordered by the Office of the President, the crisis surrounding PrimeWater exposes profound weaknesses in the country's framework for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in essential services. The analysis reveals a consistent, nationwide pattern of severe service failures, including frequent and prolonged water interruptions, poor water quality often described as murky and foul-smelling, and exorbitant tariff rates that are paradoxically coupled with deteriorating service. These issues are not isolated but are documented across numerous provinces, including Bulacan, Cavite, Leyte, Bacolod City, Pampanga, and Subic, affecting an estimated 16 million consumers.