Sarah Discaya says St. Gerrard won't bid for infra projects if she's elected mayor

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

MANILA, Philippines — Should she win the mayoral post, Pasig candidate Sarah Discaya said she would bar her family’s firm, St. Gerrard Construction, from joining the bidding for the infrastructure projects she plans to pursue.

In an ambush interview on Monday, May 12, Discaya rejected assumptions that her husband’s construction firm would be involved in the 10 buildings, flood control projects and bridges she plans to build if elected mayor.

“No, definitely not. That’s a question that I really don’t get kasi under RA (Republic Act) 9184, bawal mangontrata up to the third degree. Sumusunod naman tayo eh,” she said. 

(No, definitely not. That’s a question I really don’t understand because under Republic Act 9184, it's prohibited to award contracts up to the third degree of relation. And we follow that.)

She was referring to the Government Procurement Reform Act, which disqualifies bidders who are related up to the third civil degree to the head of the procuring entity or any member of the bids and awards committee, secretariat and technical working group. 

Relatives up to the third civil degree include both immediate and extended family members, such as children, parents, uncles, aunts, in-laws, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-grandparents.

In the final days leading up to the end of the campaign period on May 10, Discaya unveiled plans for P8.7 billion worth of projects and criticized her rival’s P9.2 billion New City Hall for allegedly being “overpriced.”

However, incumbent Pasig Mayor Sotto clarified in a Facebook post that the approved P9.2 billion contract for the Pasig City Hall project covers more than just the city hall building. 

It includes a large plaza, open spaces, IT infrastructure, interior fit-out, a medical facility with laboratories, a senior citizens' center, road networks and more.

Meanwhile, Discaya proposed the following projects amounting to P8.7 billion:

• P2.7 billion - New city hall
• P500 million - An 11-story housing
• P2 billion - Five units of an 11-storey housing
• P500 million - An 11-story university building
• P500 million - Five units of a 7-story high school building
• P500 million - Five units of a 7-story elementary school building
• P300 million - Two units of new construction of bridges
• P100 million - 10 units of 3-kilometer roads in Pinagbuhatan
• P100 million - 10 units of 3-kilometer flood control in Pinagbuhatan
• P1.5 billion - 30 units of a multi-purpose hall and covered court

RELATED: Sarah Discaya disowns viral ‘babawiin namin’ post, says it’s not from her camp

Discaya said nothing was challenging about her campaign period, even as a first-time voter and first-time politician. 

She said everything was “a new experience for her” and she is just excited for Pasig residents to get to know her, even if they won’t accept her as their mayor. 

Discaya is running against Sotto, who is seeking a final and third term in the midterm polls.