PrimeWater probe covers Mark Villar's ‘possible conflict' of interest | The wRap - video Dailymotion

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Here are today's headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:  - PrimeWater probe covers 'possible conflict' of DPWH under Mark Villar  - Power rates push inflation higher to 1.4% in June 2025 - Once axed from local film fest, West PH Sea docu wins big in New Zealand - Trump says he is willing to let migrant laborers stay on US farms - Lolit Solis remembered by friends, stars as ‘solid rock’ but ‘often misunderstood’  https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/july-4-2025/

Transcript

00:00Today on Rappler

00:06A prime water probe will cover a possible conflict of interest of former Public Works

00:17Secretary and now Senator Mark Villar. Electricity rates push the increase of last June's inflation

00:23rate to 1.4%. A documentary on the West Philippine Sea wins the Tides of Change Award at the

00:29Dock Edge Film Festival. U.S. President Donald Trump says he is open to letting migrant workers stay

00:35on American farms. And TV radio host and entertainment columnist Lolit Solis dies at the age of 78.

00:46The ongoing investigation into the bad service of private concessionaire Prime Water will cover a

00:51possible conflict of interest of then Public Works and Highway Secretary, now Senator Mark Villar.

00:56Kasi po, there was a time when LUA was under, as an attached agency of DPWH,

01:03na possible conflict yung mga namunguno doon in LUA. So let us just expound it when the time comes.

01:10The Local Water Utilities Administration or LUA oversees water districts nationwide. It entered

01:15into nearly 100 joint venture agreements with the Villar-owned Prime Water, especially during

01:20the Duterte Administration when Villar was DPWH Secretary. Prime Water is owned by Mark's brother,

01:26Manuel Paulo, and part of the empire of their parents, former Senators Manny and Cynthia Villar.

01:31Malacanang launched an investigation via LUA as a response to mounting consumer complaints about

01:36years-long bad service. In areas like San Jose del Monte Bulacan and Camarines Norte, auditors observed

01:42how water districts there were doing well but suffered income losses when Prime Water became their joint

01:47venture partner. LUA saw complaints about rusty and foul-smelling water across Luzon, in Quezon,

01:53Laguna, Cavite, Pampanga, and La Union. Meantime, Senator Mark Villar, in a statement, says he has

01:59no direct or indirect ownership or controlling interest in Prime Water. He also says he did not

02:05participate in any capacity whatsoever in any transactions between Prime Water and any of

02:10its partner districts during his tenure as Public Works Secretary.

02:13The Philippine Statistics Authority reports that inflation in the Philippines accelerated to 1.4% in

02:21June from 1.3% in May, breaking four months of slowdown. This brings the country's average

02:27inflation rate for the first half of 2025 to 1.8%, still below the government's target of 2% to 4%.

02:34Electricity was a top contributor for the recent rise in inflation, which increased to 7.4% in June

02:40from 2.8% in May. Rice prices, meantime, continue to decrease as farmer groups say the market is

02:46flooded with cheaper imported rice due to lower tariffs. The Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas had earlier

02:52projected June inflation to fall between 1.1% and 1.9%. The Money Authority says, quote,

02:59upward price pressures for the month are likely to be driven by higher meat and vegetable prices,

03:04elevated oil prices, and the depreciation of the peso.

03:07The documentary Food Delivery Fresh from the West Philippine Sea won the Tides of Change Award at

03:15the Dock Edge Festival in Auckland, New Zealand on Thursday, July 3. Food Delivery Fresh from the

03:21West Philippine Sea tells the story of Filipino fisherfolk, the Philippine Coast Guard, and Navy

03:25personnel as they bring food and aid to communities, all while navigating the tensions that arise in the

03:30waters. It also features the story of fisherman Arnel Satam, who was followed by the China Coast Guard near

03:35Scarborough Shoal. Voyage Studios says on up host, this is for every Filipino defending the West

03:41Philippine Sea. In the face of silence and fear, we carry the truth, and now the world hears us.

03:46The journey has begun. May more people see our fight.

03:50Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tariela, celebrated the

03:55news on X. The documentary had been pulled from Pure Gold Sine Panalo 2025, just two days before the

04:01local film festival was set to open on March 14. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday, July 3,

04:10he is open to allowing migrant workers to stay in the country if the farmers they work for vouch for

04:14them. He says, quote, if a farmer is willing to vouch for these people in some way, Christy, I think

04:20we're going to have to just say that's going to be good, right? Trump adds he is working with the

04:25Department of Homeland Security to support farmers who rely on migrant laborers for their seasonal needs.

04:30He also plans to work with the hotel industry on similar concerns. Trump has taken a tough stance

04:35on immigration, and his Homeland Security Secretary, Christine Noem, has been leading an effort to

04:40deport people who crossed into the United States illegally. This led to some complaints from

04:45farmers that their crops are at risk due to a depleted workforce.

04:50TV and radio host and entertainment columnist Lolit Solis passed away on Thursday, July 3.

04:56She was 78. Solis, called Manay Lolit, was known for her bold and snarky commentary.

05:03Friends, celebrities, and showbiz personalities pay tribute to Solis as their, quote,

05:07staunch loyal supporter, manager, and friend. Actor Nino Mulak, actress Yasmin Kurdi, former

05:13Senator Bong Revilla, and his son Jolo Revilla post messages of thanks and love. Talent manager

05:19Noel Ferrer also pays tribute, remembering how Solis served as the glue that kept people together.

05:24Solis had been battling kidney disease for years and openly shared her experience on Instagram.

PrimeWater probe covers Mark Villar's ‘possible conflict' of interest | The wRap

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