Chief of DPWH Speaks on Possible Bidding Violations Committed by Discayas
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon claimed that the Discaya construction firms may face P300-billion in penalties for alleged bid-rigging.
The Department of Public Works and Highways was the center of criticism amid the flood control issue in the Philippines. Several officials of the agency are linked to the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) already recommended the filing of charges against them.
Amid the flood control issue, there was a change of leadership in the DPWH. Then-Public Works Sec. Manuel Bonoan resigned from his position and he was replaced with Vince Dizon, a former secretary of the Department of Transportation.
DPWH Chief Vince Dizon previously claimed that he will order the “courtesy resignation” of all officials of the agency nationwide. According to him, the Public Works Secretary said the order will include the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, division heads, and district engineers of the agency nationwide.
Amid the flood control issue, both the Senate and the House of Representatives opened an investigation. They invited the contractors flagged by Pres. Bongbong Marcos. Among them are Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya.
During a Senate flood probe, Sarah Discaya admitted that there were instances when 9 of her construction companies bid for the same DPWH projects. Sen. Erwin Tulfo called it “bidding-biddingan” while then-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada claimed that it was allegedly not a legitimate bidding in that case.
Recently, DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon claimed that the Discaya construction companies may face P300-billion in penalties for alleged bid-rigging. Based on a report in Inquirer, he stressed that the Discayas got almost P78 billion in flood control projects since 2016.
According to Dizon, the Discaya-owned companies got 1,214 flood control contracts. The DPWH Chief stressed that the maximum penalty per contract is Php 250 million.
“Mas malaki pa ang penalty kaysa sa [amount] of contract,” Dizon said.
The Discayas tagged several government officials in the flood control mess. Amid the issue, photos of the Discaya couple with actor-turned-politician Arjo Atayde resurfaced.