As far as he is concerned, the bidding process for government projects is usually rigged as the winning contractors are already predetermined, controversial contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday, September 23.

Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya ll (left), Sarah Discaya (Senate Facebook)

Discaya pointed this out as he explained the usual process he and his wife Sarah had to go through whenever they participate in government projects as a contractor.

“I want the public to know that the process I am about to disclose is happening everywhere in the Philippines. The trend is the same and we are often pressured to comply with the wishes of those in power to influence the bidding process,” Discaya said during the continuation of the committee’s probe into the anomalous flood control projects.

Most of the time, Discaya said the “takers” of the projects are project owners and have people who would speak with officials in the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) who will ensure that they will win the bidding or that the project goes to them.

“They may have already bought the project from a congressman and are just waiting for the bidding result to come out,” he pointed out.

Discaya also detailed how the bidding was rigged at the start of the process, saying that most of the time, in order to get a project, contractors give advances to politicians to be able to reserve a project and that it will definitely go to them.

“Because politicians usually control the people in the Bids and Awards Committee. This is what they call SOP (standard operating procedure),” he added.

Discaya also admitted that he and his wife own several construction firms that won some of the government flood control projects but denied that all nine companies participate in public biddings in order to secure a project.

Moreover, he alleged that the “negotiators” in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) would ask interested contractors if they are willing to participate and would check their financial documents first.

“Then what they will do is, before you can drop your bid, you have to show your financial documents. Because if you don't, they will disqualify you or they will tear up your documents, strip you, reduce your salary, because they already have an appointed taker,” Discaya said.

According to Discaya, he tried to report such schemes to the media, adding that he still have newspaper clippings of his revelations.

“I thought then, that if this system continues, I will never get any project because of the blatant cheating by government officials,” he said.

At this, former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan, who was present during the hearing, expressed surprised at the statement of Discaya. 

“Your honor, this is very revealing, what I’m hearing now…This is very revealing, your honor,” Bonoan said.

“This is the loophole actually of manual bidding. But during my watch, your honor, I recall that I’ve been signing, blacklisting of contractors because of the three-strike policy, because of this bidding procedures that he has narrated now,” the ex-DPWH chief said.