via GRAPHIC PLUS — The Regional Trial Court of Bulacan and the Regional Trial Court of Las Piñas have dismissed the successive petitions filed by PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction against the City Government of San Jose del Monte’s interim management of local water operations in partnership with the San Jose del Monte Water District.
In the first TRO petition filed by PrimeWater before RTC Bulacan, the court ruled on May 26, 2026 that PrimeWater failed to prove the element of urgency and its right to be protected against the City Government’s efforts to address the city’s severe water supply problem. PrimeWater’s branch manager also admitted that the company had been receiving thousands of consumer complaints due to water shortages, giving the LGU 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,” the court said in its decision, emphasizing that the welfare of the people outweighs the Joint Venture Agreement or contract between PrimeWater and the local water district.
In its testimony before the court, PrimeWater said it had around 130,000 clients, but claimed that only 10,000 to 12,000 were affected by water shortages. However, based on the City Government’s assessment, more than 47,611 households, or around 250,000 residents representing 25% of the city’s total population, across 62 barangays have been experiencing poor water distribution.
The RTC Bulacan further said the City Government’s intervention has basis, as it is supported by City Ordinance No. 2026-03-012 and ratified by the Sangguniang Panlungsod through Provincial Resolution No. 293-2026. The ordinance authorizes the City Mayor, during a state of emergency in water services, to assume interim management of local water operations. The court also noted that the ordinance and related provincial resolution enjoy the presumption of regularity unless annulled by a court.
After the RTC Bulacan dismissed the TRO petition, PrimeWater filed a similar relief before the RTC Las Piñas City where its main office is 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.
“We welcome this ruling because it allows us to focus on what matters: 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,” Mayor Florida Robes said.
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