The controversy over billions worth of flood control projects is heating up.
The House Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) has officially issued subpoenas to Sarah Discaya of Alpha & Omega General Construction and several other contractors, requiring them to face lawmakers on September 9.
According to panel chairperson Rep. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro party-list, the inquiry will dig into alleged anomalies in government-funded flood control projects—projects worth hundreds of billions of pesos.
The subpoena, signed on September 4, also named:
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Mark Arevalo of Wawao Builders Corp.
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Miguel Juntura of St. Timothy Construction Corp.
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Romeo Miranda of Royal Crown Monarch Construction
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Sally Santos of Syms Construction Trading
The document carried a stern warning: those who fail to appear could be held in contempt of Congress.
P500 Billion Projects Under Question
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself previously identified these contractors among the top 15 firms handling over ₱500 billion in flood control projects. The catch? Many of these projects are not even located in flood-prone areas.
Adding to the tension, the InfraComm has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an immigration lookout bulletin for Santos and former Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) executive director Herbert Matienzo.
This comes after the PCAB revoked the licenses of nine companies linked to Discaya, following her Senate testimony where she admitted her firms joined bids simultaneously—a violation of procurement rules.
Calls for Accountability
During a recent budget hearing, House Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Suansing stressed that in the proposed 2026 national budget, only flood control projects in genuinely flood-prone areas should be funded.
Lawmakers are determined to find out whether taxpayers’ money was wasted, misused, or funneled to favored contractors.
On September 9, the spotlight will be on Discaya and her fellow contractors as the nation waits for answers.
