Board that screens contractors under DTI scrutiny

Manila, Philippines – The executive branch is casting a wider net in its scrutiny of anomalous and bogus contracts for flood control infrastructure.

The probe now also covers the board that screens businesses that can qualify as contractors for state-funded projects: the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB).

The lead agency is the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) which issued a statement on Monday, Sept. 1, to launch its own probe “in a decisive step to restore integrity, accountability, and public trust in the contractor accreditation process.”

“This investigation follows numerous allegations of conflicts of interest, accreditation irregularities, and potential abuses of authority that have called into question the integrity of the Board's operations,” the DTI said in a statement.

The review will put under the spotlight PCAB's board members and officials, with the agency not ruling out seeking their removal from office. The recommendation will be submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

"This is about ensuring accountability and transparency," Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque, who is also the chairman of the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP), was quoted in the statement as saying.

The board serves as the regulator, accrediting contractors in the Philippines to ensure that their construction projects meet both legal and quality standards.

The DTI has formed a fact-finding team for the investigation.