Balibago Waterworks System, Inc. (BWSI) is a privately owned company established in May 20, 1958 by the Santos family of Porac, led by Mr. Eladio Santos or “Apung Adiong” to the old-timers of BWSI. Its primary purpose was to acquire, establish, develop, manage and operate an effective waterworks utility system within its franchise area of 900 hectares composed of Barangay Balibago in Angeles City and Barangay Dau in the town of Mabalacat. The corporation started operations in 1958 at its present site in Balibago, Angeles City. On June 22, 1963, the Congress of the Philippines granted BWSI a Congressional Franchise for 50 years as embodied in Republic Act. No. 3647 to operate exclusively within designated areas a waterworks system. It was also granted a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) in the same year.
For 40 years, the Santos family managed and operated BWSI serving the residents and business establishments of Barangays Balibago, Santol, Amsic, Malabanas, Pulung Maragul, Pampang Diamond Subdivision and, Pulong Bato in Angeles City and part of Barangay Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga. In 1998, the Santos family sold their shareholdings in BWSI to a new group of investors led by Michael L. Escaler and Cristino L. Panlilio. Under the new management, BWSI continued to expand its pipe-network coverage and improve its service to its customers. Today, BWSI Main Branch serves more than 15,000 households in its franchise area within Angeles City and Mabalacat. When the investment group of Messrs. Escaler and Panlilio took over BWSI from the Santos family, they saw a wealth of opportunity and possibility that lay before the company. Under their guidance, BWSI expanded in the last 14 years to serve other areas in different forms.
Aside from serving its franchise area, BWSI was awarded exclusive rights and franchises to serve the Dapdap Resettlement Site together with the Municipalities of Bamban and Capas, all in Tarlac. BWSI was also approached to run and operate the water system in Essel Park; an exclusive subdivision in San Fernando, Pampanga. It also maintains a bulk water operation in Meycauayan, Bulacan. Furthermore, BWSI has been granted franchises to operate and manage waterworks systems in the municipalities of Guiguinto, Balagtas, Panginay and Malis in Bulacan; Sto. Tomas, Magalang, Minalin, Porac, San Simon, Arayat, Sta. Rita, Apalit, Sta. Ana and San Luis in Pampanga; Victoria and Sta. Rosa (Garden Villas Subdivision) in Laguna; Sto. Domingo, Llanera and Zaragosa in Nueva Ecija; Sta. Barbara, Laoac and San Jacinto in Pangasinan; Aritao, Alfonso Castaneda, Bagabag and Bayombong in Nueva Vizcaya; Maria Aurora in Aurora Province; Laurel and Talisay in Batangas; and, Passi City and Bingawan in Iloilo. BWSI is also currently expanding its operations in Tuba, Benguet. This brings to 38 the number of water utilities under the umbrella of the company.
Today, BWSI provides running water to more than 200,000 households throughout its franchise areas. BWSI works closely with the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) in the pursuit of improving potable water supply in the countryside which is likewise one of the priority goals of the national government. After 60 years in public service, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) considers BWSI the largest and most efficiently operated provincial privately owned waterworks system in the country. The awarding and granting of franchises were made possible by BWSI’s outstanding reputation of being able to deliver the best water service possible.