Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque confirmed on Wednesday, October 22, that all members of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) will be replaced as part of reforms in response to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure's (ICI) ongoing investigation into the flood control corruption.

In a press briefing held at the ICI in Taguig City, Roque said they are awaiting the official appointment of the new PCAB board members.

“Actually, there's a few changes in the PCAB. Lahat sila magiging bago. We're just waiting for the appointment of the PCAB board member,” Roque said.

She added that the executive directors of both the PCAB and the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP) have already been replaced.

To strengthen oversight, Roque announced that all contractor license applications will now go through the Office of the Secretary before being endorsed to the PCAB board for final approval.

“And then also now the licenses. Before, usually, the license kasi approved by the PCAB board. So ang nangyayari ngayon, the license will pass to the office of the secretary for checking and then from there, we give it to the PCAB board,” Roque explained.

The DTI chief said the additional layer of review aims to prevent irregularities and ensure that recommendations from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure are implemented to avoid a repeat of the scandal.

In an earlier report, Roque said that new PCAB board members would also be barred from becoming contractors.