Pasig City mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya will spend only P8.7 billion to build a new city hall and other infrastructure projects if elected in the 12 May elections.
This was according to her husband, Curlee Discaya, a contractor and owner of a quadruple-A construction firm.
It can be noted that the current city administration has allocated P9.6 billion solely for the construction of a new Pasig City Hall building.
Under Discaya’s proposed administration, however, the P8.7 billion budget would be used differently.
Rather than spending such a large amount on a single structure, Curlee said the money would fund several projects that aim to benefit the future of every Pasigueño.
In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Curlee presented a list of projects that would be constructed under Sarah Discaya’s leadership:
New City Hall building, with the same floor area and landscape – P2.7 billion
One 11-storey hospital – P500 million
Five 11-storey housing buildings – P2 billion
One 11-storey university building – P500 million
Five 7-storey high school buildings – P500 million
Five 4-storey elementary school buildings – P500 million
Two new bridges – P300 million
Ten 3-kilometer roads in Barangay Pinagbuhatan – P100 million
Ten 3-kilometer drainage and flood control systems in Barangay Pinagbuhatan – P100 million
Thirty new multi-level multipurpose halls and covered courts – P1.5 billion
That brings the total to P8.7 billion, which Curlee compared to the P9.6 billion set aside by the current administration for a single city hall building.
He added that all the proposed infrastructure projects under the P8.7 billion budget would be constructed simultaneously and completed within three years.
Curlee also noted that the P9.6 billion city hall project would cost P210,000 per square meter, comparable to the cost of the Burj al-Arab Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building.
Meanwhile, the proposed P2.7 billion city hall under the Discaya administration would cost only P70,000 per square meter.
He assured the public that they would not take part in the bidding or construction of the P8.7 billion worth of projects, as Republic Act 9184 prohibits relatives up to the third degree of consanguinity of the elected official from participating in such undertakings.
Curlee further claimed that the current city hall project’s cost could even balloon to P31 billion.
He clarified that he is not accusing anyone of corruption regarding the P9.6 billion project but said he can present cost estimates to support the feasibility of their P8.7 billion plan.
Curlee also said that the remaining P800 million from their proposed budget would be used to implement a “zero billing” policy on the first day of Sarah Discaya’s term as the new mayor.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto led the ceremonial signing for the New Pasig City Hall Project on 13 January 2025, marking the start of a P9.26 billion redevelopment plan for the city government complex.
The scale and timing of the project, however, raised questions from residents and industry professionals who are asking whether a new city hall is a reasonable use of public funds.
Before the signing, representatives from the Pasig City Government and the Pasig City Hall Construction Consortium (PCHCC) gave presentations detailing the project’s background and procurement process.
Atty. Josephine Lati-Bagaoisan, chairperson of the Bids and Awards Committee, shared that the city opted for a “design and build” modality for the project. She said it came with several advantages, although the specifics of how this approach compared to more cost-effective alternatives were not discussed.
The consortium, composed of Sta. Clara International Corporation, Bandar Hebat Builders Inc., and PhilJaya Property Management Corporation, was introduced through a video showcasing its past projects and combined expertise. Architect Royal Pineda, a native of Pasig, then presented the architectural design for the new city hall, including a walkthrough of the planned structure and the inspiration behind its overall look.
City Administrator Atty. Jeronimo Manzanero announced the total contract value of P9.26 billion and gave a general overview of how the amount would be allocated across major components of the construction. However, a detailed breakdown of costs or an explanation of alternatives that may have been considered was not provided.
Mayor Sotto has yet to explain how this major infrastructure project aligns with Pasig’s broader priorities and how its long-term value will outweigh the financial burden.
Selwyn Lao, a structural engineer and owner of a construction firm based in Pasig, raised concerns over the transparency of the bidding process for the proposed new city hall.
“All of Mayor Vico Sotto’s people involved in this project should first show their credentials and prove that they have the authority and capacity to design a building of this scale. A P9.6 billion project is considered quadruple-A. This is likely a consortium,” Lao added.
Lao said that based on consultations with peers in the construction industry, the recommended approach was to retrofit the old city hall.
According to him, the old city hall consists of two connected structures, a smaller building in front and a larger one at the back.
“That front building really tilted a bit, which means there was some settlement in its foundation,” Lao said.
“The cause of the tilting was the fault of their city engineer. They dug and designed a detention tank without knowing how to do it. That was during Eusebio’s term. Then their detention tank collapsed, causing cracks in both the old and new buildings, that’s when the panic started,” he added.
Lao said he knew this because he was the one who designed and built the detention tank, which was later relocated to the Rainforest.
As a structural engineer, Lao said Sotto could have consulted the Department of Public Works and Highways about retrofitting options.
“This is what I’ve been saying, it’s not really necessary to demolish the entire Pasig City Hall just because it tilted slightly. It can still be retrofitted. There are many techniques available. So you don’t need to spend P9.6 billion,” Lao said.
He also questioned the timing of the new city hall project.
“I smell something here. I’m sure they timed this project for the elections. I saw the amount, P9.6 billion, it clearly aligns with their plans. It seems like they want to make Mayor Vico either a vice-presidential or senatorial candidate,” he said.
Lao said the project is “too expensive.”
DAILY TRIBUNE attempted to reach Mayor Vico Sotto’s office this afternoon, 7 May 2025, for comment but received no response.
