P821-M projects of Discaya firms at risk as City Hall signals halt

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said she will move to suspend eight ongoing projects worth PHP 821 million being undertaken by construction firms owned by the Discaya family following the revocation of their licenses.

The Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) recently revoked the licenses of nine companies owned or controlled by Sarah Discaya after she admitted during a Senate hearing that the firms colluded in bidding to corner government projects.

The revocation removes the companies from the PCAB registry of licensed contractors, barring them from legally bidding for or working on government projects.

PCAB said keeping the companies accredited was against public interest, industry integrity, and procurement transparency.

“Since it was revoked, we will suspend all of their ongoing projects,” Treñas-Chu said Thursday.

She added it was “timely that it will be reviewed” since some Discaya projects in Iloilo City “do not serve their purpose, especially in preventing severe flooding.”

Treñas-Chu said she will seek guidance from the Department of Public Works and Highways on whether to issue a cease-and-desist order.

At least five Discaya-owned companies are currently working on flood mitigation structures in the city: Alpha and Omega General Contractor & Development Corp., St. Timothy Construction Corp., St. Gerrard Construction and Development Corp., St. Matthew General Contractor and Development Corp., and YPR General Contractor and Construction Supply Inc.

These firms are implementing at least eight projects in Iloilo City, mostly flood control structures.