Some construction firms in flood control projects linked to past controversies
These construction companies were among those in the list presented by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that he said were able to corner a substantial portion of flood-control projects.
One of the construction companies was flagged by the Commission on Audit for an incomplete road project and became a supplier of overpriced and outdated laptops to the Department of Education (DepEd).
A lawmaker also became one of its incorporators.
According to Maki Pulido's Tuesday report on '24 Oras,' Sunwest Incorporated got the largest amount among the 15 construction companies mentioned by the President that secured 20% of the P545 billion allocated for flood-control projects, based on data from Malacañang.
Sunwest obtained P10.1 billion for 78 flood control projects.
Based on GMA Integrated News Research's investigation, Sunwest was linked to a number of controversies.
In 2012, COA flagged one of its projects after it found that the road it constructed lacked over 2,000 square metres in width, contrary to its reported accomplishment to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The Senate also raised questions as to why the then named Sunwest Construction and Development Corp. (SCDC) became a supplier of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) for the protective personnel equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
SCDC also supplied the alleged overpriced and outdated laptops to DepEd in COA's 2022 audit.
Ako Bikol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co was a former incorporator of Sunwest but reportedly divested.
GMA Integrated News is reaching out to Co for comment.
Meanwhile, Legacy Construction Corporation acquired P9.6 billion for its 132 projects, the most in terms of projects on the President's list.
GMA Integrated News visited its office in Pasig City, but the security guard said the company had transferred before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Meanwhile, Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corporation obtained over P7.5 billion.
It has the same address as the St. Timothy Construction Corporation, which was awarded over P7 billion for the flood control project.
However, the office address for both companies states the name 'St. Gerrard Construction' displayed outside.
Based on its latest general information sheet of Alpha and Omega, Sara Discaya, rival of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto during the 2025 mayoral election, was the president of Alpha and Omega.
In a previous interview, Discaya's husband, Pacifico, told GMA Integrated News that they were formerly shareholders of St. Timothy, but they have since divested.
He added that St. Timothy rented in their building before.
St. Timothy also had pulled out as the venture partner of Miru System for the 2025 automated elections.
GMA Integrated News has reached out to St. Timothy for comment.
Meanwhile, EGB Construction Company was awarded P7.8 billion for the flood project.
EGB said its construction company has a 'quadruple A status' because it has integrity.
'Maayos ang aming trabaho, tumutupad kami sa lahat ng plans and specifications (we work properly and adhere to all plans and specifications),' engineer Erni Baggao of EGB said.
Marcos described cornering 20% of the flood control projects in the country disturbing, saying that an investigation is necessary.
'They invest in politicians tapos yung (the) politicians are expected to provide them with the contracts that they want to corner,' Roland Sibulan of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance explained.
These favors include giving campaign funds, but Sibulan did not provide any examples.
Flood control projects are among the most popular projects for companies to milk of funds, he said.
'Mahirap kasing i-monitor [ang flood control projects] kasi precisely because they are not so visible. We can only test their effectiveness and efficiency or what is deficient about them when the flood is already there,' Sibulan said.
(Flood control projects are difficult to monitor precisely because they are not so visible. We can only test their effectiveness and efficiency, or what is deficient about them, when the flood is already there.)
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manny Bonoan admitted it is a challenge to verify implemented projects.
'Well, we're doing our best actually to monitor. But once again, the challenge is actually to verify them actually in the field,' Bonaon said.
For her part, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said there are corrupt contractors who got away with the process.
'Mga dating nablacklist nag-iba lang ng pangalan at ngayon mukhang nakakapagtransact pa muli sa gobyerno. Mahiya naman kayo,' Castro said.
(Previously blacklisted companies just changed their names, and now it seems they're able to transact with the government again. Have some shame.) — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
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Some construction firms in flood control projects linked to past controversies
Incomplete road projects, overpriced laptops and questionable incorporators are past controversies linked to some construction firms who cornered a substantial portion of government's flood control projects. These construction companies were among those in the list presented by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that he said were able to corner a substantial portion of flood-control projects. One of the construction companies was flagged by the Commission on Audit for an incomplete road project and became a supplier of overpriced and outdated laptops to the Department of Education (DepEd). A lawmaker also became one of its incorporators. According to Maki Pulido's Tuesday report on '24 Oras,' Sunwest Incorporated got the largest amount among the 15 construction companies mentioned by the President that secured 20% of the P545 billion allocated for flood-control projects, based on data from Malacañang. Sunwest obtained P10.1 billion for 78 flood control projects. Based on GMA Integrated News Research's investigation, Sunwest was linked to a number of controversies. In 2012, COA flagged one of its projects after it found that the road it constructed lacked over 2,000 square metres in width, contrary to its reported accomplishment to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The Senate also raised questions as to why the then named Sunwest Construction and Development Corp. (SCDC) became a supplier of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) for the protective personnel equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. SCDC also supplied the alleged overpriced and outdated laptops to DepEd in COA's 2022 audit. Ako Bikol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co was a former incorporator of Sunwest but reportedly divested. GMA Integrated News is reaching out to Co for comment. Meanwhile, Legacy Construction Corporation acquired P9.6 billion for its 132 projects, the most in terms of projects on the President's list. GMA Integrated News visited its office in Pasig City, but the security guard said the company had transferred before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Meanwhile, Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corporation obtained over P7.5 billion. It has the same address as the St. Timothy Construction Corporation, which was awarded over P7 billion for the flood control project. However, the office address for both companies states the name 'St. Gerrard Construction' displayed outside. Based on its latest general information sheet of Alpha and Omega, Sara Discaya, rival of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto during the 2025 mayoral election, was the president of Alpha and Omega. In a previous interview, Discaya's husband, Pacifico, told GMA Integrated News that they were formerly shareholders of St. Timothy, but they have since divested. He added that St. Timothy rented in their building before. St. Timothy also had pulled out as the venture partner of Miru System for the 2025 automated elections. GMA Integrated News has reached out to St. Timothy for comment. Meanwhile, EGB Construction Company was awarded P7.8 billion for the flood project. EGB said its construction company has a 'quadruple A status' because it has integrity. 'Maayos ang aming trabaho, tumutupad kami sa lahat ng plans and specifications (we work properly and adhere to all plans and specifications),' engineer Erni Baggao of EGB said. Marcos described cornering 20% of the flood control projects in the country disturbing, saying that an investigation is necessary. 'They invest in politicians tapos yung (the) politicians are expected to provide them with the contracts that they want to corner,' Roland Sibulan of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance explained. These favors include giving campaign funds, but Sibulan did not provide any examples. Flood control projects are among the most popular projects for companies to milk of funds, he said. 'Mahirap kasing i-monitor [ang flood control projects] kasi precisely because they are not so visible. We can only test their effectiveness and efficiency or what is deficient about them when the flood is already there,' Sibulan said. (Flood control projects are difficult to monitor precisely because they are not so visible. We can only test their effectiveness and efficiency, or what is deficient about them, when the flood is already there.) Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manny Bonoan admitted it is a challenge to verify implemented projects. 'Well, we're doing our best actually to monitor. But once again, the challenge is actually to verify them actually in the field,' Bonaon said. For her part, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said there are corrupt contractors who got away with the process. 'Mga dating nablacklist nag-iba lang ng pangalan at ngayon mukhang nakakapagtransact pa muli sa gobyerno. Mahiya naman kayo,' Castro said. (Previously blacklisted companies just changed their names, and now it seems they're able to transact with the government again. Have some shame.) — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
