Gearing up for the future of contractor licensing

Setting standards for a certain industry is vital to ensure the quality of whatever it produces.

- By CATHERINE TALAVERA

For the construction industry, ensuring the quality of work is a matter of public safety as an improperly made structure may put the lives of people at risk.

One way to ensure the quality of construction projects is to put regulations in place so that only those who are truly skilled will be allowed to take on projects. This is one of the functions of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB).

Established by virtue of Republic Act No. 4566, the PCAB is the government agency mandated to issue, suspend, and revoke contractors' licenses in the Philippines for both foreign and local players.

Despite regulations being in place for decades, getting contractors, especially the small-scale ones, to get licensed has been a challenge over the years as they cite issues such as distance and stringent documentary requirements.

"I've been here since 2017, and one of the issues cited by contractors is that it's hard to get licensed," PCAB Executive Director Atty. Herbert Matienzo said.

"Now, we considered those comments, and I'm happy to say that it is now easier. You apply online, you pay online, you get your license online, and the public can verify your license online," he said, adding that there is no longer a challenge for those in the provinces to go to the PCAB's office in Makati City to apply for licensing.

The PCAB Executive Director also noted that the shift to online licensing application has resulted in an increase in licensed contractors.

"When I started in 2017, we only had around 9,000 contractors. Right now, we're pushing towards 24,000 contractors," Atty. Matienzo said.

He explained that the introduction of the online licensing portal gives contractors no more excuses for not being able to get licensed.