Builders’ Basic Masterclass Launched to Empower Pakyaw Contractors Nationwide

Builders’ Basic Masterclass Launched to Empower Pakyaw Contractors Nationwide
July 18, 2025 | Shangri-La Makati

In a landmark effort to uplift grassroots builders, strengthen the country’s construction value chain, and redefine the future of micro, small, and medium contractors in the country, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) and the Construction Manpower Development Foundation (CMDF)—both implementing boards of the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP)—officially launched the Builders’ Basic Masterclass (BBM) Program on July 18, 2025.

This flagship program of the present administration is designed to empower the country’s smallest and most vulnerable builders—pakyaw contractors—by providing them with the foundational skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the evolving construction sector.

Held at the Shangri-La Makati, the launch brought together some 140 leaders and stakeholders from the public and private sectors to usher in the BBM program. The program is designed to equip pakyaw and small-scale contractors with foundational business and technical skills, enabling them to formalize their operations, obtain proper licensing, and take part in the mainstream construction industry.

Speaking on behalf of DTI Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, Assistant Secretary Leonila T. Baluyut of the DTI Regional Operations Group (ROG) expressed the Department’s strong support for the initiative:

• “BBM is the kind of program that shall leave a lasting legacy. It is not a one-time intervention, but rather a sustained investment in the individuals who help construct the very fabric of our nation—our pakyaw contractors.”

Efforts will focus on scaling the BBM program nationwide by working closely with local government units and construction associations to ensure that grassroots builders—especially in areas where contractors often lack access to training and capacity-building programs typically available in major urban centers—have access to the support and opportunities they need to succeed.

In his welcome remarks, DTI Fair Trade Group (FTG) Officer-in-Charge Atty. Regino Mallari Jr. underscored the indispensable role of pakyaw contractors in nation-building:

• “Though small in size, their impact is immense. From the roads that connect our communities, to the schools that nurture our children, to the homes that shelter our families—their hands have built the very foundations of our daily lives.”

Beyond technical instruction, the BBM program also seeks to instill values of leadership, accountability, and integrity in project execution among pakyaw contractors through modules on project management, regulatory compliance, site operations, and business development.

PCAB Chairman Dr. Pericles P. Dakay introduced the BBM framework by sharing how his late father started their construction firm over 50 years ago with a modest pakyaw contract to build a perimeter fence. This personal story highlighted the vital role that pakyaw contractors have played in the country’s infrastructure development and the potential they hold when given the right tools and opportunities.

With over 600 licensed pakyaw contractors nationwide, the program is expected to increase this number and expand opportunities for them to participate in the mainstream construction sector.

The DTI, through PCAB and CMDF, reaffirms its dedication to empowering Filipino workers and contributing to nation-building—one skilled builder at a time.