Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

Several vendors at a public market in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro have staged a protest to urge the local government to clarify the status of the new market project, after one of the joint venture contractors—owned by the family of Sarah Discaya—became involved in a corruption scandal.The ₱193-million 2-storey market project is a joint venture between Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor and Development Corporation owned by the Discaya family, and local contractor Kejamarenik Construction and Construction Supplies.The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) MIMAROPA Region issued the notice to proceed as early as March 22, 2024, but more than a year later, not a single structure has been built.According to Mayor Rey Ladaga, the project encountered many legal issues.“Because hindi agad naihanda ng bayan ng San Jose ang paglilipatan kasi maraming legal questions, kontra ang sangguniang bayan, maraming nagra-rally na wala naman pagra-rallyhan,” said Ladaga.Merle Reyes, owner of Kejamarenik Construction, said they had to stop construction because the vendors have yet to vacate the market.“Kailangan namin ma-pile driven ito, may tao doon, kailangan ma-clear &#x27;yun tapos isara namin para makapagpalo, ayaw nila umalis sa palengke,” Reyes said.The vendors insist they are not against building a new market. They only want clarity on the plan and whether the project will still push through, since one of the joint venture contractors has already been stripped of its license by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) after being linked to corruption in flood control projects.“Wala na po kami tiwala dahil alam namin substandard, alam niyo naman po ang kasaysayan ng Discaya, panawagan namin kay DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon  pansinin niyo naman kami, 200 million poste at biga lang &#x27;yun,” said vendor Andrea Itucas.“Kami po ay hindi tumututol na ipagawa ang bagong palengke dahil kailangan-kailangan na talaga pero kami po ay maraming agam-agam. Gusto po namin makita yung detalyadong plano,” said another vendor, Rosita Pulgar.Kejamarenik and Mayor Ladaga said they had already written to the DPWH to seek clarification about the project, but they also have yet to receive a response.“Sa akin pananaw good faith naman tayo, good faith &#x27;yung other side ng joint venture alangan naman kanselahin mo rin &#x27;yung kaniyang license,” said Ladaga.According to Kejamarenik, only 15 percent of the ₱193-million budget has been used as a mobilization fund, which was spent on making concrete piles.ABS-CBN News has reached out to Amethyst Horizon Builders and the DPWH but they have yet to respond.The owner of Kejamarenik took the news team to their construction yard and showed that they had already finished 756 piles to be used for the foundation of the new market.Kejamarenik and Mayor Ladaga both insisted that the project is not a “ghost project.”“&#x27;Yung 15 percent pa lang ang aming nakuha na ipinagpagawa naman namin ng mga pilote, &#x27;yung pondo nito ay nandoon pa rin sa DPWH sa Region 4B” said Reyes.“Ewan ko saan ang corruption, wala pa naman nagagalaw na pera diyan, wala naman kami nahawakan na pera diyan,&quot; Ladaga added.Another concern raised by the vendors is that they were allegedly not consulted during the planning of the new market project.The vendors also claimed that the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) had not approved the project in 2024.But Mayor Ladaga clarified that in 2025, the council passed a resolution approving the project, even though a notice to proceed had already been issued in 2024.“After ng election nagkaroon siya [ng approval] kaya nga word namin doon ay affirmation. Ina-affirm namin na payag ang bagong Sangguniang Bayan na matuloy ang palengke,” said Ladaga.However, the question that remains unanswered for the vendors is when the construction of the new market will finally begin.Mayor Ladaga said that once the vendors are relocated to a temporary market, construction of the new market will start.The target is to complete the new market within two years.

The ₱193-million market project is a joint venture between Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor and Development Corp. owned by the Discaya family, and local contractor Kejamarenik Construction and Construction Supplies.

The ₱193-million market project is a joint venture between Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor and Development Corp. owned by the Discaya family, and local contractor Kejamarenik Construction and Construction Supplies.

P193-M market project in Occ. Mindoro still not built after more than a year

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P193-M market project in Occ. Mindoro still not built after more than a year

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 06, 2025 05:08 PM PHT

Read More:

Discaya couple

DPWH

ghost project

substandard

regional news

Occidental Mindoro

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