Discaya firms face investigation by contractors group

The Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) is looking into the companies owned by contractor Sarah Discaya, after she admitted nine of her firms bid for the same projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“Ito po ay tinitingan na aming ahensya dahil kahapon lang nahayag na na sila talaga ang benificial owners,” PCAB executive director Herbert Matienzo said Tuesday during the House infrastructure committee hearing.

(Our agency is looking into Discaya’s case, as they admitted that they were the beneficial owners of the nine companies yesterday.)

“Nung silang nag-apply, hindi pa po lumabas na sila yung beneficial owner nung nasabing mga kompanya,” he added.

(When they applied, it was not indicated that they were the beneficial owners of the said companies.)

These companies are the following:

• Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
• St. Gerrard Construction and Development Corp.
• St. Timothy Construction Corp.
• St. Matthew General Contractor and Development Corp.
• Elite General Contractor and Development Corp.
• Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor, and Development Corp.
• YPR General Contractor and Construction Supply Inc.
• Great Pacific Builders and General Contractor Inc., and
• Way Maker One Person Corp.

Matienzo said Discaya may have violated the Philippine Contractors License Law and the New Government Procurement Act, which may result in the revocation of their license.

“Contractors License Law does not prohibit multiple ownership of companies but rather it prohibits a particular person being an authorized managing officer of more than one construction company,” Matienzo said.

Matienzo also said PCAB needs help from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and local government units (LGU) in preventing contractors with revoked licenses from having another company.

“Kailangan po siguro namin ng tulong sa SEC kung sakaling korporsyon ang kanilang itatayo para doon palang mapigilan na ang pagtatayo ng kumpanya. Gayun din sa mga LGU kung saan nila irerehistro ang kaninlang business permit at mayor’s permit,”  Matienzo.

(We need help from the SEC in case they plan to set up a corporation, so that we can bar the establishment of the company. We will also need help from the LGUs where they will get their business and mayor’s permits.)

Alpha and Omega General Contractor was among the 15 contractors listed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that were awarded 20% of the country’s flood control projects.

Discaya was called to the Senate blue ribbon committee on Monday as president of Alpha and Omega General Contractor & Development Corporation.

She also admitted to owning 28 luxury cars, which prompted a call to probe into the Discaya couple's lifestyle and luxury vehicles.

On Tuesday, the Bureau of Customs enforced search warrants against the Discayas’ properties to check the said vehicles, but only two of the 12 luxury vehicles were found.—LDF, GMA Integrated News