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Discaya couple bagged P31-B in flood control projects - PCIJ

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David Dizon

<p>Pacifico “Curlee” II and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya are &quot;flood control royalty&quot;, according to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, after their companies and joint ventures bagged P31 billion in flood control projects from 2022 to 2025.</p><p>PCIJ’s Gwen Latoza said six companies founded by the Discayas plus 3 other joint ventures bagged 421 of 9,855 flood-control projects in the last 3 years, totaling P31.035 billion.</p><p>“Sumatotal P31 billion po lahat ng ‘yun. ‘Yun po siguro ‘yung pinakamalaki na nakuha ng iisang pamilya. 31 billion pesos. 31 billion pesos for the 9 companies ng Discaya. At ‘yung iba po doon if I want to emphasize is joint ventures between companies that they own. So parang, asan na po ‘yung kompetisyon pagdating sa bidding,” she said, citing data from the Sumbong sa Pangulo website and the Securities and Exchange Commission.</p><p>Sarah Discaya, who ran for mayor of Pasig City in the May 2025 elections but lost to incumbent Vico Sotto, earlier told members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that her family’s wealth accumulated after 23 years in the construction business.</p><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/QxvMJ3zAvDw?&amp;t=2s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>She also admitted owning 28 luxury vehicles with a combined value close to P200 million. Her family&#x27;s car collection includes a Rolls Royce Cullinan worth P42 million, Mercedes Benz Maybach (P22 million), Bentley Bentayga (P20 million), Mercedes Benz-AMG Wagon G63 (20 million), two units of Cadillac Escalade (worth P11 million each), two units of GMC Yukon Denali (P11 million each), Range Rover Autobiography (P16 million), Range Rover Defender (P7 million), Range Rover Evoque (P5 million), and Chevrolet Suburban (P3 million).</p><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/CtSFQJ7s8JQ?&amp;t=38s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>ZALDY CO</strong></div><p>Second on the list of top recipients of flood control projects, according to the Sumbong sa Pangulo website, is former House appropriations committee chair and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co whose companies bagged 149 solo and joint projects worth P15.7 billion.</p><p>In the interview, Latoza noted Co’s companies bagged the flood control projects while he was still appropriations committee chair.</p><p>“‘Yung data po dito is reflective of the time also that he was the chair. So this is from July 2022 to May 2025 po. If SunWest lang po, bali 79 po, single and joint. Pero kung ‘yung kabuuan po na po ay 149,” she said.</p><p>“And I wanna add also, if we&#x27;re talking about the single biggest contractor, it&#x27;s SunWest po. So SunWest ‘yung contractor na tanging nakakuha ng P10 billion at lahat na po ng ibang contractors ay P9 billion or less…Ang hirap hindi i-connect sa kanyang posisyon, sa kanyang kapangyarihan, ‘yung posibilidad na meron itong kinalaman sa pagkakuha niya na itong mga kontratang ito.”</p><p>Lawmakers at the House Infrastructure Committee clashed Tuesday following a motion to invite former House Appropriations Committee chairperson Zaldy Co and former Senate Finance Committee chairperson Grace Poe  to the hearing.</p><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/sw1kVPO8Omk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco said if congressmen cannot be invited as resource persons in the hearing, it would go against pronouncements that the House Infra Comm probe will spare no one.</p><p>“Sabi n’yo kanina kahit sinong masagasaan, wala tayong sinasanto, kahit congressman, kahit senador. Kung ang congressman hindi pupuwedeng maging resource person at hindi natin pwedeng pa-testify under oath, edi ibig sabihin, sa usapang ito, exempted ang congressman. So paano tayo mag-iimbestiga?” he told the panel.</p><p>“Under the name of Cong. Zaldy Co, ang insertion sa bicam as proponent siya, is P13,803,692,000 and we do not want to invite him as resource person,” Tiangco added.</p><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/1_T-691nNas?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Pacifico “Curlee” II and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya are "flood control royalty", according to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, after their companies and joint ventures bagged P31 billion in flood control projects from 2022 to 2025.</p>

Pacifico “Curlee” II and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya are "flood control royalty", according to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, after their companies and joint ventures bagged P31 billion in flood control projects from 2022 to 2025.

Discaya couple are PH's 'flood control king and queen', with P31-B in flood control projects - PCIJ

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Discaya couple are PH's 'flood control king and queen', with P31-B in flood control projects - PCIJ

David Dizon

Published Sep 03, 2025 08:43 AM PHT

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curlee discaya

sarah discaya

flood control

zaldy co

ako bicol

dpwh

toby tiangco

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