DTI chief places PCAB, CIAP under direct supervision

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque has placed the Construction Industry Association of the Philippines (CIAP) and its implementing boards, such as the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), under her direct supervision.

“Placing them under my direct supervision will ensure that order, transparency and accountability is restored within these agencies,” Roque said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Trade chief’s announcement came after she disclosed the formation of a fact-finding team to oversee the investigation into PCAB following allegations of conflicts of interest, accreditation irregularities, and potential abuses of authority amid the ongoing probe into the flood control project anomalies. 

She earlier said the inquiry would form part of its broader mandate to protect stakeholders and/or consumers in the construction industry and to uphold the highest standard of governance in public service. 

Roque said the “leadership intervention” underscores the “DTI’s unwavering commitment to prevent mismanagement and any conduct detrimental to its agencies.”

“Full transparency and cooperation are mandatory, and those who breach the trust and mandate entrusted to us will be held accountable,” Roque said.

The Trade chief said the move also signals a renewed focus on accountability and better governance within CIAP and PCAB as they undergo this significant review and clean-up.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson over the weekend sounded the alarm over supposed extortion in the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), saying a contractor was threatened to pay at least P1 million or face the non-renewal of his license. —VAL, GMA Integrated News