House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos has filed a measure seeking to bar relatives of public officials from entering into government contracts, citing the need to prevent conflicts of interest.
House Bill 3661, filed before the House of Representatives, disqualifies relatives of politicians up to the fourth degree of consanguinity from participating in any form of government contract.
The measure defines public officials to include agency heads, members of governing boards, heads of procuring entities, and officers holding policy-determining, supervisory, or managerial functions. The coverage extends to both career and non-career service, including uniformed personnel and the military.
The proposed ban applies to contracts involving supplies, materials, machinery, equipment, and services, as well as infrastructure projects. It also covers joint ventures and public-private partnerships.
Under the bill, the Government Procurement Policy Board, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Public-Private Partnership Center, and the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) will be tasked to draft the implementing rules and regulations. The agencies are given 60 days from the bill’s effectivity to finalize the guidelines.
Supporters of the proposal say it could curb nepotism and corruption by ensuring that contracts are awarded fairly, free from undue influence of political families. Critics, however, warn of possible legal challenges, particularly in defining the scope of relationships and the impact on legitimate business operations involving relatives of officials.
The bill is expected to spark further debates in Congress as it moves through deliberations, touching on issues of transparency, accountability, and the limits of political power.
