By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday urged the Philippine Construction Accreditation Board (PCAB) to take action against alleged “accreditation for sale” practices instead of merely dismissing the issue as the work of outside scammers.
Lacson said contractors themselves revealed paying at least PHP2 million in exchange for accreditation, raising doubts over the agency’s claim that its licensing process remains intact.
“Instead of merely denying reports of misconduct involving what they claim to be scammers misrepresenting them, PCAB leadership should look at their own people and police their ranks,” he said in a news release.
He said PCAB’s credibility is at stake if it fails to explain why certain contractors were still granted accreditation.
“For how can they explain why certain contractors who, after coughing up at least PHP2 million, were actually issued accreditation by PCAB?” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III, in interpellating Lacson during his earlier privilege speech on flood control anomalies, flagged that a contractor linked to a ghost project in Bulacan still managed to renew its PCAB license for 2025 to 2027.
Lacson also noted that firms with pending cases before the Court of Tax Appeals were still able to renew their accreditation, while smaller contractors with Single A licenses were allowed to take on big projects.
The senator called on PCAB to strengthen coordination with other government agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, to prevent collusion behind ghost and substandard projects.
“Dapat check and balance sa halip na collusion (There should be check and balance instead of collusion),” Lacson said.
PCAB, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, earlier denied the existence of an “accreditation for sale” scheme, claiming that certain individuals on social media were merely misrepresenting the board.
The PCAB, under Republic Act 4566 or the Contractors’ License Law, is mandated to regulate the construction industry by issuing, denying, suspending, or revoking licenses to ensure that only qualified contractors operate.
It also registers and classifies licensed contractors for government projects under the Government Procurement Reform Act, evaluating their financial capacity, technical expertise, equipment, and track record. (PNA)
