Ched Rick Gatchalian

Article (news)

Discaya-owned firm has an unfinished project under DOH: Herbosa

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175930231460820250106030144_097d045ac64009af252ffcc0f9fe04c35fe4224652acf176c873b5b6d2255fb7.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Department of Health (DOH) office in Manila. April 21, 2014. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">MANILA — A firm owned by the Discayas also has an unfinished infrastructure project for the Department of Health (DOH).</p><p>&quot;Quickly lang, Secretary Herbosa, saan pong lugar yung infra na ginawa po ng St. Timothy for DOH na hindi po nila tinapos? Which area, which province?&quot; Sen. Erwin Tulfo asked during the agency&#x27;s budget hearing.</p><p>&quot;Sa Zamboanga region po,&quot; Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa answered. &quot;Hindi pa po nagagamit dahil nga hindi pa tapos. &quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/3/9-discaya-firms-lose-licenses-for-bidding-against-each-other-on-projects-1249">9 Discaya firms lose licenses for bidding against each other on projects</a></div><p>Firms connected to Curlee and Sarah Discaya have been implicated to anomalous projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SANCTIONS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Tulfo inquired if relevant officials have been sanctioned over the unfinished project.</p><p>&quot;Pinaimbestigahan ko pa lang doon sa regional director and of course may due process. We&#x27;ll go through all the whole process and kaka-discover ko lang nito with all the Blue Ribbon hearings,&quot; Herbosa answered.</p><p>Tulfo floated the idea of having the Independent Commission for Infrastructure look into the matter.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/30/ici-amlc-ink-deal-to-strengthen-cooperation-in-flood-control-probe-1431">ICI, AMLC agree to strengthen cooperation in flood control probe</a></div><p>&quot;Hindi ko po alam yung details ng implementation of the ICI if all infrastructure. Akala ko kasi from my readings, flood control lang. Kung kasama yun, it would be nice to help us. Pero meron naman tayong processes in government. Yun nga yung our own investigation, we can file with the Ombudsman,&quot; the Health chief said, adding that if their process won&#x27;t work, they are willing to submit a report to ICI.</p><div> </div><div><strong>COLLUSION BETWEEN DOH OFFICIALS, CONTRACTORS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Tulfo also raised the possibility of collusion between DOH officials and contractors in some projects.</p><p>&quot;Sir, do you think may collusion dito, kagaya ng DPWH, na ilan sa mga opisyal ninyo maaari sa regional level, provincial level, may collusion, may sabwatan doon sa contractor para sa paggawa ng mga projects na ito, Secretary?&quot; Tulfo said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/6/coa-flags-doh-for-delayed-unimplemented-health-facilities-projects-in-2023-1234">COA flags DOH for delayed, unimplemented health facilities projects in 2023</a></div><p>&quot;‘Yan po ang aking conclusion din. Kasi kung ang engineer na nag-inspect from our side, binigyan siya ng clean bill na completed, mababayaran siya. Kasi hindi naman mai-issue kung hindi bibigyan ng inspection na clearance... Bakit siya nabayaran kung hindi pa completed. Eh dapat yan progress billing po,&quot; Herbosa responded.</p><p>Tulfo also wants to know how many incomplete projects are under the DOH.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n7mLglVpiBs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jma5nJvKKFQ?&amp;t=2s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>A firm owned by the Discayas also has an unfinished infrastructure project for the Department of Health (DOH), the Secretary confirmed Wednesday.</p>

A firm owned by the Discayas also has an unfinished infrastructure project for the Department of Health (DOH), the Secretary confirmed Wednesday.