Procurement accreditation withdrawn from Discaya companies

MANILA, Philippines — The Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) has officially revoked the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) membership of nine companies associated with Sarah Discaya.

This comes after the cancellation of their Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) licenses, a requirement under the new government procurement act that requires contractors to hold the license to obtain PhilGEPS Platinum membership.

PS-DBM named the nine companies as the St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor & Development Corp., Alpha & Omega General Contractor & Development Corp., St. Timothy Construction Corp. and Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor & Development Corp.

It also includes St. Matthew General Contractor & Development Corp., Great Pacific Builders and General Contractor Inc., YPR General Contractor and Construction Supply Inc., Waymaker OPC and Elite General Contractor and Development Corp.

Meanwhile, former public works secretary Rogelio Singson confirmed yesterday that even before it was blacklisted in 2020, one of the firms linked to Sarah and Curlee Discaya had already been suspended in 2015.

Singson, in an interview with “Storycon” on One News, said St. Gerrard Construction was suspended over a tax-related issue in November 2015.

“During my term, there was a period when they were blacklisted due to issues with tax payments and incorrect declarations. Eventually, however, upon their request, we lifted the blacklisting,” he said.

A copy of the suspension order available on the Department of Public Works and Highways website showed that St. Gerrard, listed as owned by Pacifico Discaya II or Curlee, was suspended for a year due to the submission of a “spurious” tax clearance certificate.

But Singson, who signed the suspension order, said it was lifted several months later.

“They later rejoined the bidding process for the 2016 and 2017 budgets. From November 2015 to March 2016, they were unable to secure any awards, but they subsequently submitted and participated again in the biddings under the 2016 and 2017 budgets,” he added. — Janvic Mateo, Jose Rodel Clapano