Jamaine Punzalan

Students navigate the flooded section of Taft Avenue in Manila on Friday, August 22, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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MANILA FLOODING

Lyza Aquino

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/175697829508820250822-td-isang-flooding-manila-students-JC0287.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Students navigate the flooded section of Taft Avenue in Manila on Friday, August 22, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Thursday said around 100 contractors for flood control projects, including firms linked to Curlee and Sarah Discaya, have yet to pay taxes to the local government.</p><p>Manila is going after P255 millio2n in taxes from the contractors involved in 315 flood control projects in the capital, Moreno said.</p><p>He said Discaya-linked firms in particular secured around P3 billion worth of projects in Manila and have yet to settle their contractor’s tax.</p><p>Moreno said the City Treasurer’s Office has issued statements of account (SOA) to the contractors involved in around 300 flood control projects, warning them of legal action and blacklisting for failure to settle their unpaid contractor’s taxes.</p><p>Only nine projects, amounting to P8.09 million, have been fully settled by their respective contractors. The rest remain delinquent, with some notices already served but refused by recipients, while others are pending redelivery due to address changes, the mayor added.</p><p>“Obligation nila ito sa lungsod ng Maynila. We are only here to enforce it,” Moreno said. “If they do not comply, we will file criminal charges, request their blacklisting from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and deny them permits through the City Engineering Office and the Office of the Building Official.”</p><p>The mayor added that 86 notices have been officially received, while 192 others were delivered through couriers due to distant project sites. Three notices remain undelivered due to address changes.</p><p>He said that companies refusing to pay their dues would be blocked from obtaining new contracts and permits in Manila, and could face civil claims for damages caused by unfinished or substandard projects.</p><p>He said some the companies owned by the Discayas, including Amethyst Horizon Builders and Gen. Contractor and Development Corporation, St. Timothy Construction Corporation and Great Pacific Builders and General Contractor Inc, had unpaid taxes amounting to around P23 million. </p><p>ABS-CBN News has reached out to the legal counsel of the Discayas but they have yet to respond, as of posting.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>AMNESTY </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The city is offering a six-month tax amnesty program that allows contractors to settle obligations without incurring penalties, surcharges, or interest if paid within the prescribed period.</p><p>“It’s cheaper to pay today than after the amnesty expires,” Moreno said. “Kung magpahuli kayo, lalo lang kayong magkakaproblema.”</p><p>He said the Manila government was prepared to pursue civil claims for city property damaged by contractors, as well as criminal charges against those found with “bad intent” in evading payment. </p><p>“Obligasyon pa lang hinihingi namin, pero yung negosyo nila malilimitahan kapag sila ay nakipagmatigasan,” he said.</p><p>“Ang mahirap nito, yung ordinaryong pamilya, nagpapagawa ng bahay, sinisingil ng contractor’s tax, building permit, zoning permit. But these big companies, nasanay sila na walang gobyerno sa Maynila. Those days are over,” he said.</p><p>Sarah Discaya and other government contractors on Monday received a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/1/discaya-other-flood-control-contractors-get-letter-of-authority-from-bir-1523">letter of authority</a> from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), a document that would allow tax officials to examine a taxpayer&#x27;s books or records to check if he or she is indeed paying the right taxes.</p><div><i> </i></div>

<p>Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said around 100 contractors for flood control projects, including firms linked to Curlee and Sarah Discaya, have yet to pay taxes to the local government.</p>

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said around 100 contractors for flood control projects, including firms linked to Curlee and Sarah Discaya, have yet to pay taxes to the local government.

Isko: Discaya-linked firms among 100 flood control contractors that have yet to pay taxes

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Isko: Discaya-linked firms among 100 flood control contractors that have yet to pay taxes

Lyza Aquino,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 04, 2025 05:32 PM PHT

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Updated September 04, 2025 06:12 PM PHT

Read More:

corruption

flood

flood control

baha

DPWH

Manila

Isko Moreno

Discaya

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