Sen. Tulfo files bill vs conflict of interest in PCAB

Senator Erwin Tulfo has filed Senate Bill 1373, proposing stricter regulations for contractor licenses and aiming to amend the Contractor's License Law.

The bill seeks to disqualify PCAB members from the board if they own or are officials of companies involved in government transactions.

Tulfo raised concerns about a conflict of interest within the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), citing a situation where competitors judge each other.

He highlighted that under Republic Act No. 4566, PCAB members are required to have at least ten years of contracting experience, leading to potential impartiality issues.

This arrangement constitutes a state-sanctioned conflict of interest, violating Republic Act No. 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Tulfo criticized the PCAB's silence on these issues, noting the difficulty of internal policing when officials can continue their construction businesses.

Engineers Erni Baggao and Arthur Escalante were previously tagged for a supposed potential conflict of interest by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson.