Lawmakers move to bar relatives from gov’t infra deals

National

THE practice of “cong-tractors” — lawmakers who also engage in government contracting — may soon face an outright ban under a proposal filed at the House of Representatives.

Members of the National Unity Party (NUP) have introduced a measure that would prohibit sitting legislators and their relatives from securing infrastructure and construction contracts with any government agency.

The group is also urging House leaders to adopt the restriction into the chamber’s internal rules to allow enforcement while the bill moves through the legislative process.

House Deputy Speaker and Antipolo 1st District Rep. Ronaldo Puno, who chairs the NUP, said the proposal seeks to eliminate so-called “cong-tractors,” or members of Congress involved in government infrastructure projects.

Under the bill, lawmakers would be barred from having family members up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity obtain contracts for infrastructure and other construction projects from any government entity, including the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The prohibition would apply regardless of whether the lawmaker attempts to divest shares or financial interests in a contracting firm, as the measure calls for a total ban rather than divestment.

“The ban will cover the 4th degree of consanguinity or affinity. Even your cousins are banned from getting contracts from any government projects. It will not be allowed. Our thesis is that either you are a contractor or you are serving the government. It cannot be both,” Puno

said in a Philstar report.

Apart from seeking legislative approval, the NUP is recommending that the proposed restriction be written into House rules so it can be implemented internally without waiting for the bill’s enactment. Under the proposal, once included in the chamber’s rules, any confirmed violation — including contracts obtained by relatives within the covered degree — would result in automatic expulsion from the House.

The measure is currently pending before the House committee on rules. According to Puno, around 130 lawmakers have signed on to the bill, including most of the NUP’s 42 members and legislators from other political parties such as Lakas. He said they are seeking additional support to secure majority backing.(MyTVCebu)