Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero is aiming to close the gaps that allow undue influence to persist in government projects through the filing of Senate Bill (SB) No. 783.

The Senate Chief filed the bill on early Monday, August 4, as a direct response to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call to eliminate conflicts of interest and restore public trust.

"This measure affirms our shared commitment to the President's call for clean governance. It's time we close the gaps that allow undue influence to persist in public contracts," Escudero said in a press release.

Under the said bill, public officials and their relatives up to the fourth civil degree will be disqualified from entering into government contracts. Aligned with the passage of the Republic Act No. 12009, or the “New Government Procurement Act, the bill aims to boost the country’s procurement safeguards—an effort to fight graft and corruption.

The scope of “public official” includes those in policy-determining, supervisory, or managerial roles—whether in career or non-career service—and military and uniformed personnel.

"This bill is a response to persistent irregularities and corruption in government contracts. Despite existing safeguards, undue influence continues to undermine fairness and impartiality,” Escudero said in an explanatory note. “By extending disqualification to a broader circle of relatives, we aim to restore public trust and ensure that procurement processes are truly merit-based."

SB No. 783 will be referred to the appropriate committee for deliberation.

The bill mandates the Government Procurement Policy Board, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Public-Private Partnership Center, and the Governance Commission for GOCCs to jointly promulgate the implementing rules within 60 days of its effectivity.