Discaya-linked firm allegedly abandons five unfinished projects in Bicol

By Manuel T. Ugalde

LEGAZPI CITY – At least five government infrastructure projects in the Bicol region remain unfinished, reportedly due to abandonment by a construction firm linked to the controversial Discaya Construction group.

Four of the incomplete projects are located in the island province of Catanduanes, while a P700-million flyover project intended to connect to the Bicol International Airport remains idle in the town of Camalig, Albay.

The Discaya Construction firm, reportedly owned by a couple based in Pasig City, Curlee and Sarah Discaya, is said to be associated with multiple construction companies, including Alpha Omega Construction. The firm rose to prominence during the Duterte administration and is currently facing scrutiny for alleged irregularities in public infrastructure contracts.

In a previous statement, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. cited Discaya Construction as among those under investigation for involvement in questionable flood control projects nationwide. The President had questioned how over P500 billion in flood control funds since 2018 failed to curb recurring floods in Metro Manila and other regions.

According to public works records in Bicol, the P700-million Malabog flyover project — intended to traverse a 10-kilometer mountainous route from Camalig town to Barangay Alobo in Daraga — has remained stalled since 2022. As of the latest inspection, only four columns have been erected, indicating around 20% completion.

If completed, the project is expected to bypass six barangays and the traffic-congested Daraga business district, easing travel for commuters from Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Metro Manila heading toward Matnog, Sorsogon — the gateway to the Visayas and Mindanao.

Regional Director Virgilio Eduarte of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) confirmed that the primary reason for the delay is the unresolved road right-of-way issue involving ten residential properties on the other side of the Malabog section of the Maharlika Highway. Eduarte had expressed optimism in 2024 that these disputes would soon be resolved.

Observers have noted that the current state of the project, with only a few structural columns erected, has become an eyesore along the highway. Some insiders questioned why the project was launched before the road right-of-way issues were settled.

Aside from the Malabog flyover, four other projects — reportedly three-story school buildings located in the Catanduanes towns of Viga, Panganiban, and Gigmoto — are also incomplete. While cost details were not disclosed, these school building projects were said to be under contract with Alpha Omega Construction, one of the companies linked to the Discayas.

Catanduanes Representative Jose “Bong” Teves of the TGP Party-list criticized the apparent abandonment of the school projects in his province, citing the adverse impact on teachers and students who are currently using makeshift classrooms.

Meanwhile, other infrastructure projects under the DPWH’s road and bridge expansion initiatives are in various stages of completion across the region. However, some — such as the Arimbay and Padang bridges in Legazpi — remain partially finished due to delays in constructing road approaches.

The DPWH has yet to issue a formal statement on the fate of the stalled projects or the status of contractors involved. Investigations into the accountability of construction firms continue at the national level.