MANILA — A full overhaul of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) is urgently needed in light of its alleged involvement in widespread corruption, former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Thursday.
Lacson’s call follows the reported resignation of PCAB Executive Director Herbert Matienzo and a growing scandal involving “accreditation-for-sale” schemes, conflict of interest, and alleged extortion within the agency.
“A complete overhaul of the PCAB board is in order. It has long operated as a low-profile yet corruption-ridden regulatory body. In tandem with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), it has delivered a one-two punch to Filipino taxpayers, draining public funds through ghost and substandard infrastructure projects,” Lacson said.
He previously exposed several questionable practices at the PCAB, including:
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The alleged sale of contractor accreditations,
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Board members owning construction companies that benefit from government contracts, and
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Extortion targeting legitimate contractors.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has since ordered an investigation into the agency. In response, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque placed the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP) — and all its implementing boards, including the PCAB — under her direct supervision.
While Matienzo’s resignation was officially attributed to “personal reasons,” it coincides with mounting scrutiny and pressure on the agency.
Lacson also criticized what he described as the worsening “stench of corruption” in government, particularly in the coordination between the DPWH and certain members of Congress.
“Nakakapagod. When I left the Senate three years ago, the stench of corruption was limited to certain graft-ridden agencies. Now, it’s made its way into the National Expenditure Program through budget insertions — thanks to the collusion between the DPWH and Congress,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Lacson has long championed anti-corruption reforms and remains vocal on issues of government transparency and accountability, especially in public infrastructure spending.
