Malacañang on Thursday warned of possible legal action against Great Pacific Builders and General Contractor Inc., a company owned by controversial contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya, after the sloppy construction of the Philippine Film Heritage Building (PFHB) in Intramuros, Manila was exposed.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro personally inspected the PFHB and found poor structural design and substandard work.
“Kung mapapakita talaga natin, eto makikita naman natin, kung bakit nagka-ganito, kung wala silang valid reason, kung bakit hindi nila ito nai-turn over ng tama at naaayon sa kontrata, pwede silang makasuhan, unang-una, civil liability, meron ito,” Castro said after the inspection.
The scheduled turnover of the PHP143-million PFHB on Thursday failed to push through due to unfinished work, including an incomplete cinematheque, water leakage, faulty elevator doors, and poorly designed downspout drainage.
“Nakakadismaya. At ang building na ito, ang contractor nito ay ang Great Pacific Builders and General Contractor Inc. Isa ito sa mga korporasyon ng mga Discaya,” Castro stressed.
She added that the government, through this project, appears to have been cheated.
“Mismong gobyerno pa talaga, ito pang mismong proyekto na ito ang parang niloko pa ng mga Discaya,” she said, noting that the First Lady has been a strong advocate for the preservation and promotion of Filipino films.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-South Manila District Engineering Office awarded the Phase 1 contract for PFHB on September 25, 2023, under the DPWH’s National Building Program, funded through a “Congress-introduced adjustment” in the 2023 national budget. Phase 2 of the project, which covers finishing works and installation of critical systems such as HVAC, fire alarms, CCTV, and elevators, is targeted for completion on September 4, 2025.
The Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) earlier revoked the licenses of nine Discaya-owned firms, including Great Pacific Builders, after Sarah Discaya admitted before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that she owned multiple companies that cornered billions in government flood control projects.