Who knows Pacifico and Sarah Discaya?

By Herbert Vego

IN a chance meeting, I asked Engr. Ronnie Primaylon of Roprim Construction, one of the local contractors dealing with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), whether he had personally met spouses Pacifico and Sarah Discaya.

“No,” he answered.

It was an unexpected answer, since no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had named three construction firms, allegedly belonging to the couple, with defective flood-control projects in the city and province of Iloilo, namely Alpha and Omega, St. Gerrard and St. Timothy.

Sarah is better known not as a contractor but as a candidate who had run but lost to re-electionist Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto despite her appearances on TV shows where she flaunted her wealth.

When TV host Julius Babao asked the couple how they had acquired so much wealth, including 40 ultra-luxury cars like Rolls Royce, Cadillac and Ferrari, Sarah quipped, “Nag-DPWH kami.”

They are among the top 15 contractors that Marcos had exposed for having bagged the lion’s share of DPWH’s ₱545-billion budget for flood mitigation from July 2022 to May 2025.

During his visit to Iloilo City, the President observed that some of the flood-control dikes and waterways were “substandard”. He called for accountability for those found responsible.

Could it be that the Discayas had subcontracted their “brands” to local contractors who could not have qualified to bid for big-ticket DPWH projects?

As the original contractors, they are responsible for the subcontractor’s work and liabilities.

The Discaya companies are classified “quadruple A,” which is the highest license category awarded by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB). A significant requirement is a minimum net worth of ₱1 billion to handle major projects.

Given no other bidder to a DPWH project, their three firms could “compete” in a bidding.

Even before the visit of the President, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu had been complaining of failed flood mitigation that Engr. Roy Pacanan, officer-in-charge of the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO), would not shed light on. He would not appear before her and the Iloilo City Council on the pretext that City Hall had declared him “persona non-grata.”

But since the President has already ordered district engineers to coordinate with local government officials before starting any project, Pacanan is expected to pay a visit to the mayor within the week.

Since the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) is directly under the national government, Pacanan had thought that it’s only Congresswoman Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda whom he should report to.

That’s not surprising because, in practice, the preferences of congressmen are “considered” in the appointment of district engineers.

Iloilo City’s recurring flooding is largely due to poor inter-agency coordination, weak maintenance of waterways, informal settlements, and unregulated urban development that destroyed natural water channels.

In fact, Mayor Raisa Treñas has issued a temporary cease and desist order against all ongoing waterway projects of the Iloilo City District Engineering Office.

But Congresswoman Baronda disagreed, “I am happy with the performance indi lang ni Engr. Pacanan but the whole team of Iloilo City District Engineering Office.”

So, who’s lying?

-oOo-

INTENSIFIED ANTI-PILFERAGE DRIVE

THE joint efforts of the Iloilo City Government and MORE Power has almost eradicated power pilferage.

Thanks to Mayor Raisa Treñas’ Executive Order No. 015, Series of 2025, reactivating Task Force Botahe.

Its mandate includes inspecting all 180 barangays, disconnecting unauthorized lines, and filing criminal charges against pilferers under Republic Act No. 7832.

There used to be around 30,000 illegal power connections.

“We are determined to end this dangerous and unlawful practice,” said Treñas. “Our goal is to protect lives and property from the risks brought by illegal electrical connections and to stop the misuse of electricity paid for by the city government but illegally used by others.”

MORE Power President/CEO Roel Castro expressed satisfaction over the work of the task force.

“Ilonggos had to pay for the electricity pilfered from illegal connections for decades. Illegal connections do not just burden legitimate consumers who pay for stolen electricity but also take toll on the system which results in overloading,” Castro said.