Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque on Wednesday, Oct. 22, announced a total overhaul of the members of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB)--the body that grants license to contractors of government infrastructure projects--in light of the anomalies in the flood control projects.

Roque made the announcement as she attended the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) hearing to give the body an idea on how the agency and the board accredit construction firms for infrastructure projects.

Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, who is set to return as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that is investigating the corruption in flood control projects, had earlier tagged PCAB "as a low-key yet corrupt-ridden regulatory body".

In a privilege speech, Lacson said PCAB allegedly worked alongside the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and "methodically punched us in the gut, providing the first of a one-two punch, thus knocking out our hard-earned tax payments".

The senator had called for its "complete overhaul."

Speaking in a press conference, Roque said "there is really change in PCAB," pertaining to the new set of board members.

"Lahat sila magiging bago (All of them are new). We're just waiting for the appointment of the PCAB board members, and then the executive board members of PCAB-CIAP (Construction Industry Association of the Philippines) are all changed also," she said.

Roque also said contractors and those who own a construction company cannot be part of the new PCAB.

"Meaning, di talaga sila interesado na maging contractors (It means they really should not be interested in becoming contractors)," she said.

"They're appointed, presidential appointee po sila. But of course, we've submitted a lot of names. They have to have 10 years of experience. They're actually very well respected in the construction," he added.

A PCAB license is one of the requirements for contractors to be awarded with a government infrastructure project.

Following anomalies in the flood control projects, Roque said DTI has added another process to ensure that only qualified contractors get the project.

"The licenses before... kasi approved by the PCAB Board. So ang mangyayari ngayon (what will happen now), the license will pass to the office of secretary for checking, and then from there, we will give it to the PCAB Board," she said.

"So now, there's an additional check which is in the Office of the Secretary to make sure that madouble check talaga sila (they are double checked), that they're really following the rules set of course by the PCAB and the DTI, and the recommendation by the IC that this incident doesn't happen again," Roque added.

Meanwhile, Roque also disclosed working on the revocation of license of at least 15 contractors involved in the flood control project anomalies. She added that more contractors would be named.

"There are other more contractors also that we need to investigate further. I cannot really give the number kasi, as we go along, dumadami sila (they're increasing in number)," she added. She noted that DTI cannot divulge their identities yet as they were probing into their actual violation.

Roque also said DTI was eyeing the revocation of the license of firms whose owners were related those involved in the anomalies.