Discaya admits family’s 9 companies bid for same projects
Metro Manila, Philippines - Controversial contractor Sarah Discaya admitted before the Senate that her family owns nine construction firms, some of which have at times bid for the same government projects.
Senators called this practice questionable, with one branding it as “bidding-biddingan.”
Discaya appeared before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee for the first time on Sep. 1, on the strength of a subpoena after she skipped the initial hearing. She attended as the owner of Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corporation — one of the firms named by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as having secured the most flood control projects.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada asked Discaya to confirm the “common knowledge” that she and her family own nine construction companies. Discaya confirmed this, listing the firms as:
St. Gerrard Construction
St. Timothy Construction Corporation
Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corporation
Elite General Contractor and Development Corporation
St. Matthew General Contractor and Development
Great Pacific Builders and General Contractors
YPR General Contractor and Construction Supply
Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor & Dev’t Corp.
Way Maker OPC
She said the companies are owned jointly by her and other family members.
Estrada then asked whether these companies had ever competed for the same project. Discaya initially denied this, but after Estrada warned that bidding records could be checked, she admitted: “Si Alpha and Omega and St. Gerrard, hindi po sila nagsasali sa isang bidding. Pero yung ibang licenses, magkakasama sila minsan.”
[Translation: Alpha and Omega and St. Gerrard don’t participate in the same bidding. But the other licenses are sometimes together.]
“So minsan naglalaban-laban ’yung siyam [So sometimes the nine compete against each other]?” Estrada followed up.
Discaya said yes.
“That is not a legitimate bidding,” Estrada replied.
“Dahil ‘yung siyam na yun na naglalaban-laban sa isang kontrata, iisa lang may ari. So kahit sino dun, kahit sinong manalo dun sa bidding na ‘yun, ikaw ang panalo,” he added.
[Translation: Because those nine companies competing for the same contract have only one owner, so whoever wins the bidding, you still end up the winner.]
Discaya tried to argue that the companies have different owners on paper, but Estrada reminded her that she had already acknowledged family ownership across the firms.
When pressed again, Discaya finally agreed with Estrada’s point.
“Nagbibiding-bidingan,” Senator Erwin Tulfo remarked.
Discaya told the panel her family has been in the construction business for 23 years and began working with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in 2012.
Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III then asked when they earned their first billion from DPWH, referencing a viral interview where Discaya claimed their wealth grew after they became a public works contractor.
“I would presume in the 23 years pwede naman po siguro kaming kumita [we could possibly earn our keep],” Discaya said.
“Yung bilyon, when I said DPWH, because prior to that we were in local government so ang hirap makasingil sa local government [About the billions — when I said DPWH, it’s because prior to that, we were working with local government, and it was very hard to collect payments from them]. They spliced the video that was taken of me and just mentioned the DPWH,” she added.
Discaya also clarified her previous claim of owning 40 luxury vehicles. She now says she personally owns 28, while the rest are owned by her companies for official use.
