DTI chief pushes for new contractor law

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is seeking to amend the Contractors’ License Law to address potential conflicts of interest, following the resignation of top officials from the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB).

- DEXTER BARRO II

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the current law does not explicitly prohibit a PCAB board member from being an active contractor, which she admitted creates a conflict of interest.

Earlier, the PCAB officials, who were alleged to be concurrently operating their own construction firms, stepped down amid a controversy involving anomalous flood control projects.

“So the laws need to be changed also,” she told reporters last week. “But of course, just like all laws, we have to keep changing them as time goes by.”

Under Republic Act (RA) No. 4566, each board member is required to have at least 10 years of experience in the contracting business.

Other qualifications include being a citizen and resident of the Philippines for at least eight years prior to appointment to the board, at least 35 years old, and of good moral character.