Gatchalian pushes for bill barring public officials’ kin from gov’t contracts

MANILA — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday highlighted the need to pass into law Senate Bill 1962, or the Government Contracting and Procurement Integrity Act, to prevent corruption.

Passed on third and final reading in September, the bill bars relatives—up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity—from doing business with agencies where their relatives work.

Covered public officials include elected local and national officials, senior government officials, Cabinet secretaries, officers and members of Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations, and state university officials. 

“Importante na maisabatas natin ito sa lalong madaling panahon para masiguro natin na ang pondo ng bayan ay napupunta sa mga programa at proyekto na makakatulong sa taong-bayan at hindi lang sa mga kamag-anak ng mga nasa kapangyarihan,” said Gatchalian, a co-author of the measure.

(It is important that this is passed into law as soon as possible to make sure public funds go to programs and projects that benefit the people and not the relatives of those in power.)

Under the bill, those entering into contracts with government agencies must submit a sworn affidavit that they — or in the case of companies, its officers, directors, trustees, and beneficial owners — are not “related by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree to any covered public official or personnel.”  

A private entity will also be given 15 days to disclose if any of its corporate officers, members of the board of directors or trustees, or beneficial owners, enters into a relationship with any covered public official or personnel.

The entity is required to take steps to cause the resignation or divestment of the disqualified person.

Penalties if the bill is passed into law include imprisonment of from one to three years, a fine of at least P100,000, and perpetual disqualification from participating in or entering into any government procurement.

Erring public officers will face the same first two consequences and perpetual disqualification from public office.