The Senate is drafting a bill that would prohibit relatives of government officials from becoming contractors or suppliers in government projects, Senate President Chiz Escudero confirmed on Tuesday.
The proposed legislation aims to ban individuals related up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity from participating in public contracts.
Escudero said the move was prompted by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s recent call to clamp down on corruption across government agencies.
Though still in the drafting stage, Escudero noted the bill could be filed as early as today or tomorrow. He added that they intend to include it in the list of priority bills to ensure quicker processing and potential approval by the President.
If passed, the bill would tighten restrictions on potential conflicts of interest, especially in local and national government projects where familial ties have often drawn scrutiny.
Currently, there are no blanket bans on relatives of officials engaging in government contracts, though the law discourages nepotism and related practices under certain codes.
The Senate’s proposal, however, would create a specific prohibition to close loopholes critics say allow officials’ families to benefit from public funds indirectly.
No official timetable for debate or passage has been announced, but the bill is expected to be a key topic in upcoming Senate sessions.
