House Deputy Speaker Antipolo City 1st district Rep. Ronaldo Puno has led his fellow National Unity Party (NUP) members in filing a measure that would outlaw the involvement of public officials in government projects.

Filed on Monday, Feb. 23 was House Bill (HB) No. 7917, or the proposed "Act Amending Republic Act No. 12009, otherwise known as the 'New Government Procurement Act'."

The bill seeks to add a new section to RA No. 12009 on the "prohibition on public officials' participation".

The new provision reads: "Any elective or appointive public official, their relatives within the fourth (4th) civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, nominees, agents, assignees, or persons acting on their behalf, shall be prohibited from participating in any stage of government procurement."

It said that "Such prohibition shall also apply to any company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, or other business entity that is owned, controlled, managed, operated, or beneficially

owned, in whole or in part, by any of the foregoing, or in which any of them holds, directly or indirectly, any ownership interest, management or policy- making position, directorship, trusteeship, or partnership."

The authors of HB No. 7917 said that despite existing lehal safeguards, recent events have revealed serious weaknesses in the current procurement framework in government infrastructure projects.

"Investigations on so-called 'ghost projects' have implicated certain members of Congress in substandard works, non-existent projects, anomalous project procurement activities, and kickbacks," they said.

"Senate investigations and independent inquiries have uncovered alleged schemes or machinations linking legislators to construction companies, including those owned or controlled by their relatives, close associates, or nominees," they added.

According to the NUP stalwarts, the current issues regarding budget insertions indicate that lawmakers and other public officials exercise substantial influence over national appropriations, project listings, oversight hearings, and agency priorities.

"Undoubtedly, when such influence coincides with private financial interests in procurement contracts, the risk of self-dealing and manipulation of public resources becomes acute," the measure read.

"This bill therefore seeks to amend the New Government Procurement Act to prevent conflict of interest rules and close loopholes that allow circumvention," it read.

HB No. 7917 introduces an explicit statutory prohibition against public officials and their relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from having any direct or indirect financial or beneficial interest in government procurement contracts such as infrastructure and public works projects.

"The immediate passage of this bill amending the New Government Procurement Act is carnestly sought, in order to protect public funds, restore confidence in the procurement system, and faithfully uphold the constitutional principle that public office is a trust for the people," the authors said.