Manila: Senate President Francis Escudero has introduced legislation aimed at disqualifying public officials and their relatives, up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, from entering into contracts with the government.
According to Philippines News Agency, Senate Bill No. 783 is designed to build upon the recently enacted Republic Act No. 12009, also known as the New Government Procurement Act. This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), where he emphasized the need to eliminate undue influence and enhance ethical standards within public transactions.
Escudero emphasized that the proposed legislation is a commitment to the President’s call for clean governance by addressing gaps that allow undue influence in public contracts. The bill targets relatives of public officials across various roles, including policy-making, supervisory, or managerial positions, within both career and non-career services, as well as military and uniformed personnel.
The bill specifies that relatives will be prohibited from engaging in any government contracts related to supplies, infrastructure, joint ventures, and public-private partnership (PPP) projects, with exceptions only for those contracts deemed highly technical, proprietary, or confidential.
Escudero noted that, despite existing safeguards, irregularities in government contracts continue. By broadening the circle of disqualified relatives, the aim is to restore public trust and ensure that procurement processes are based on merit.
The measure defines ‘public official’ to include individuals working in national government agencies, government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), and local government units. It also requires the Government Procurement Policy Board, Department of the Interior and Local Government, PPP Center, and Governance Commission for GOCCs to issue implementing rules within 60 days of the law’s enactment.
Escudero expressed optimism that the bill would be included in the Common Legislative Agenda of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for the 20th Congress, marking a strategic advancement towards institutional resilience, transparency, and systemic reform.
