Former Pasig mayoral candidate and contractor Sarah Discaya on Monday acknowledged before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that her family-owned companies had at times competed against one another for the same flood control projects.
The admission came after Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada pressed her to confirm whether her nine firms had simultaneously joined in bids for single contracts.
“That is not a legitimate bidding. Because those nine competing for one contract have only one owner. So whoever wins that bidding, you are the actual winner,” Estrada said.
Discaya initially denied the allegation but conceded after Estrada threatened to secure official records from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Sen. Erwin Tulfo remarked during the hearing that such a practice was tantamount to gaming the procurement system.
The nine companies identified under Discaya’s name include Alpha and Omega Construction, St. Timothy Construction, St. Gerrard Construction, Elite General Contractor and Development Corporation, St. Matthew General Contractor and Development, Great Pacific Builders and General Contractor, YPR General Contractor and Construction Supply, Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor and Development Corporation, and Way Maker OPC.
Discaya confirmed she serves as chief operating officer of Alpha and Omega, one of the top recipients of flood control contracts in recent years. She also holds executive roles in other family-linked firms, though management is often assigned to relatives or close associates.
Overall, Discaya estimated that her family’s companies had landed around 400 government projects since 2022.
She insisted her firms are capable of handling simultaneous contracts, claiming they employ more than 200 workers nationwide, and denied allegations that her family’s businesses enjoyed advance knowledge of DPWH project listings. However, Discaya maintained that while she knows some district engineers in provinces such as Laguna and Bulacan, no one provided her with preferential treatment.
The Blue Ribbon inquiry marks Discaya’s first appearance after skipping an earlier session in August, which prompted senators to issue a subpoena. The probe chaired by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta will resume next week.
