Manila, Aug. 4 -- Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday filed a measure seeking to disqualify public officials and their relatives-up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity-from entering into contracts with the government.

Senate Bill No. 783 builds on the recently passed Republic Act No. 12009 or the New Government Procurement Act and is aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s call in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to eliminate undue influence and tighten ethical standards in public transactions.

"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.

Under the...