Sarah Discaya, contractor of Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp., has claimed that the media edited her previous interview to misrepresent her statements about earnings from public infrastructure projects, as she appeared before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee today, September 1, to address issues surrounding her construction firms’ alleged involvement in the controversial flood control projects.
Discaya: “They Spliced the Video”
During questioning by senators including Vicente Sotto III, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, and Jinggoy Estrada, Discaya insisted her controversial statements were taken out of context.
“They spliced the video that was taken of me and just mentioned the DPWH,” Discaya said.
“For the knowledge of everyone, St. Gerrard, Alpha and Omega, we have been in the construction business for 23 years. So I would presume in the 23 years pwede naman siguro kami pong kumita. ‘Yong bilyon, when I said DPWH, because prior to that we were in local government, so ang hirap makasingil sa local government,” she added.
Senator Sotto followed up, asking, “So, you’re saying that the television station and the persons interviewing you edited your answer?”
“I think so sir,” Discaya replied. “Kasi I did mention that I was doing local government as well as private.”
From Overseas Work to Government Contracts
Discaya recounted her background, starting with her family’s private construction experience and her own earlier career abroad.
“My father was a contractor before, for LGU. And then ako, I worked sa ibang bansa. I was a dental receptionist and an orthodontic nurse,” she said.
Her husband and his brother were also involved in private development projects, she noted.
When asked by Estrada how she entered government contracting, she answered: “Wala naman po [naka-impluwensya], nakita namin noon [sa] ‘PhilGEPS’ na may mga projects na pwede palang mag-join. So we joined the bidding na we know we were qualified for.”
Discaya Grilled on DPWH Earnings Timeline
Sara Discaya told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that her companies began participating in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects in 2012, following years of work with local government units.
“Sometime in 2012, we started with DPWH... pero prior to that we were with local government,” she said.
However, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa questioned the origin of her company’s reported earnings, citing inconsistencies in her past media statements.
“Dineclare nyo sa interview mo na kumita kayo ng malaki noong nag-DPWH kayo, ngayon gusto mong i-attribute ‘yong wealth ninyo going back doon pa sa tatay mo... Pero, very clear sa video na sinabi mo ‘noong nag-DPWH’ kayo,” he said.
Discaya clarified that their work on DPWH flood control projects began in 2016.
“2016 onwards,” she stated.
When asked by Senator Vicente Sotto III about the company’s income tax payments in 2017, Discaya said she could not provide the figures on hand.
“I don’t have the data on me right now, kasi I have an accountant that handles that,” she responded.
Senators Question License Renewals
Sen. Sotto raised multiple concerns about the contractor’s history, noting that St. Gerrard was suspended in 2015 and blacklisted in 2020 by the DPWH. He also cited a 2023 Bulacan river project awarded to St. Timothy, which was declared completed despite over 200 meters of revetment allegedly unbuilt.
Despite these issues, both companies had their licenses renewed by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB).
“St. Gerrard’s PCAB license was renewed and is valid from July 1, 2023 to January 28, 2026... St. Timothy’s PCAB license was also renewed for 2025-2027,” Sotto said. “What is the basis of these renewal despite the issues in their previous projects?”
In response, PCAB Chair Pericles Dakay explained that blacklists issued by the DPWH are time-bound and lifted once the agency certifies project completion.
“The blacklist that was issued by the DPWH has a certain time limitation. Once a notice that the project has been completed then the blacklist is lifted,” Dakay said.
When Sotto pointed to Section 4.2 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)—which disqualifies contractors for “malperformance of grave consequence”, Dakay emphasized PCAB’s limited jurisdiction but added that complaints can still trigger disciplinary action.
“If the blacklist is lifted by the implementing agency, then their licenses can be renewed. However, we have another mechanism... if there is a verified complaint from the LGUs or the implementing agency, then we hear the case and apply the penalties that commiserate to the offenses.”
He also said PCAB works closely with agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) when contractors are found violating safety rules or operating without proper licenses.
“For example, the DOLE reports to us a lot of infractions committed by the contractors, such as unlicensed contractors implementing construction work, unsafe practices resulting in the death of people in the workplace, and we act upon that immediately,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Senate cited several contractors involved in controversial flood control projects in contempt for failing to appear at today’s hearing, despite having been properly served with subpoenas.
