Sen. Bato dela Rosa Says People Responsible for Anomalous Flood Control Deals Must Be Held Accountable
BATO DELA ROSA – The Senator called for the continuity of the flood probe despite controversial contractor Sarah Discaya’s claim they started getting government contracts in 2016.
The Senate launched its own investigation on the anomalous flood control projects in the Philippines. The chamber invited the contractors flagged by President Bongbong Marcos during a press conference. According to Marcos Jr, the country has spent P545-billion for the government flood control deals from July 2022 to May 2025.
Marcos Jr. revealed that nearly 20% of the total P545-billion flood control projects in the Philippines went to 15 contractors. The President said they got P100 billion and five of them have projects in the different regions across the nation.
According to Marcos Jr., here are the 15 contractors that got nearly 20% of the total P545-billion worth flood control projects since his administration started. Out of the following contractors, he named the Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp., the Legacy Construction Corporation, the St. Timothy Construction Corporation, the Road Edge Trading & Development Services, and the EGB Construction Corporation as the ones which were awarded with flood control deals in almost across the nation.
- Legacy Construction Corporation
- Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
- St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- QM Builders
- EGB Construction Corporation
- Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Sunwest, Inc.
- Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc.
- Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Wawao Builders
- MG Samidan Construction
- L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Road Edge Trading & Development Services
However, amid the Senate flood probe, several contractors ditched the first hearing set by the chamber. The probe is led by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senator Rodante Marcoleta.
Following the absence of several contractors invited to the first Senate hearing, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero signed the subpoenas for the contractors who skipped the first Senate probe. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada also warned that he will move for the arrest of the contractors who will skip the September 1 hearing. The following were issued subpoenas:
- Mr. Luisito R. Tiqui, President of L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Ms. Cezarah C. Discaya, President of Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corporation
- Mr. Lawrence R. Lubiano, President of Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Mr. Edgar S. Acosta, President of Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Ms. Marjorie O. Samidan, authorized managing officer of MG Samidan Construction
- Mr. Romeo C. Miranda, President of Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Ms. Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando. President of St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- Ms. Aderma Angelie D. Alcazar, President/CEO of Sunwest, Inc.
- Mr. Eumir S. Villanueva, President of Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Mr. Mark Allan V. Arevalo, General Manager of Wawao Builders
During the Senate hearing, Sarah Discaya who is undeniably the most popular among the contractors cited by Marcos Jr. was asked by Sen. Bato dela Rosa when her firms started securing government deals. Discaya is the president of the Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corporation but admitted to owning nine (9) construction firms and 28 luxury cars.
However, Sen. Bato dela Rosa was seemingly surprised by the claim of Sarah Discaya that her firms starting securing government contracts since 2016. It was also the same year that the term of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte started.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa was seemingly left speechless for a few seconds after the “2016” response of Sarah Discaya and it earned criticisms and mocking from the netizens. Recently, the Duterte-known ally Senator expressed a call for the continuity of the flood probe.
Based on a post of Inquirer, Sen. Bato dela Rosa asserted that the investigation into the alleged anomalies in some flood control projects in the Philippines must continue regardless of which administration was in power when they occurred.
“So what kung 2016? Kung gumawa sila ng kalokohan nung panahon na ‘yon dapat imbestigahan. Pera ng bayan ‘yan e,” the Senator said.
Previously, while in The Hague, Netherlands, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that the flood control corruption allegedly started even before the presidential term of her father, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.