P4B awarded to Sunwest from unprogrammed appropriations — Sen. Gatchalian

Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation, a firm linked to anomalous flood control projects, was awarded P4 billion from unprogrammed appropriations, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Thursday.

During the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee on the alleged anomalous flood control projects of the government across the country, Gatchalian said that P34 billion was released to Sunwest from 2022 to 2025.

He said that of this, P1 billion was given to the corporation under unprogrammed appropriations in 2023 and P3.5 billion was awarded in 2024.

“Makikita din po natin, from NEP to GAB to GAA, saan pumapasok ‘yung mga projects na na-award to Sunwest Corporation. Ang punto po dito, P4 billion ang na-award sa Sunwest Corporation galing sa unprogrammed appropriation,” he said.

(We can also see, from NEP to GAB to GAA, where the projects awarded to Sunwest Corporation come in. The point here is that P4 billion was awarded to Sunwest Corporation from the unprogrammed appropriation.)

“Which is not easy because merong guidelines ang DBM na dapat shelved already,” he added.

Sunwest is among the 15 contractors named by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as those who were awarded with most flood control projects. 

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co was a former incorporator of Sunwest but has reportedly divested.

Co has been linked to the anomalous flood control projects. He has since denied the allegations.

H-Tone Construction and Development Corporation

Meanwhile, Gatchalian said Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corporation received P814 million from unprogrammed appropriations.

“So kapag kinombine po natin ‘yung mga projects awarded to Sunwest and Hi-Tone, lumalabas po, almost P47 billion po. Lahat na po ‘yan,” he said.

(So when we combine the projects awarded to Sunwest and Hi-Tone, it comes out to almost P47 billion.)

“Doon sa unprogrammed, almost P6 billion. Unprogrammed lang po ‘yun,” he added.

(From the unprogrammed funds, it’s almost P6 billion. That’s just from the unprogrammed.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News