The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1962 on third reading Wednesday, barring relatives of government officials from entering into and securing government contracts.

All 15 senators present voted in favor of the measure, which comes more than a year after the flood control scandal exposed how relatives of public officials, including members of Congress, secured billions in government contracts — including infrastructure and anti-flood projects — that fueled the kickback scheme.

In the House of Representatives, Ilocos Rep. Sandro Marcos, the President’s son, filed a counterpart bill as early as August last year. However, the bill remains pending at the committee level.

SB 1962, or the proposed “Government Contracting and Procurement Integrity Act,” seeks to ban relatives of public officials within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from entering into government contracts.

The scope covers immediate family — such as spouse, children, parents and siblings — and extended family members, including first cousins, nieces, nephews and their in-law counterparts.

The bill also covers grandchildren, great-grandparents, great-aunts, great-uncles, nephews and other relatives.

If passed into law, they will be barred from entering into government contracts involving supplies, materials, machinery, equipment and services; infrastructure projects; joint ventures; public-private partnership projects; and other similar agreements involving government funds or property.

Relatives are also prohibited from participating in subcontracting, consortiums, joint ventures, or similar business arrangements to perform government contracts.

Meanwhile, public officials covered include those holding national and local office; Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, officers and members of government-owned or -controlled corporations; and state universities and colleges, whether regular or ex officio, and their designated alternates.