Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque on Wednesday said the revocation of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) licenses issued to the top 15 flood control contractors as disclosed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is in the final stages.
The President disclosed last August that 20 percent of the P545 billion worth of flood control contracts were cornered by only 15 contractors.
“It’s pending, but we’re in the final stages already,” Roque told reporters after emerging from a hearing of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
The DTI chief was invited by the ICI as a resource person in the ongoing investigation into the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.
Roque told the ICI that members of the PCAB have been barred from participating in contracting processes.
Roque added that the PCAB board members were no longer permitted to own a construction company, asserting this constitutes a conflict of interest.
She also said the list of the new PCAB board members will be announced soon.
The ICI invited Roque to shed light on the systems and processes involved in the accreditation of contractors.
PCAB, which operates under the DTI’s supervision, is responsible for issuing licenses to construction companies eyeing infrastructure projects.
In a press briefing, Roque said she submitted more names of contractors to the ICI for possible revocation of their PCAB licenses, on top of the initial 15 contractors now under investigation in relation to the flood control controversy.
“We can’t divulge yet the names of the additional contractors that have some violations. We are still investigating with the ICI. The ICI is really the investigating body regarding this issue of flood control and the issue with the contractors,” she said.
“There are more contractors also that we need to investigate further. I can’t really give the number as we go along. Actually, there are many, but the thing is we can’t really divulge also because we need to make sure of their violation,” she added.
Roque said she also discussed with the ICI changes that need to be implemented with regard to accreditation of contractors.
“There are so many applications. We need to improve and reform our processes while ensuring that newcomers and those obtaining licenses adhere to the new rules. This way, we can prevent the issues of the past from recurring,” Roque noted.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated. Originally posted with the headline “DTI shares PCAB reforms to ICI in the wake of infra scandal.”
