Senator Robin Padilla has renewed his push for Senate Bill No. 1299, or the proposed “Mahiya Naman Kayo Act,” a measure seeking to prohibit members of Congress from interfering in the identification, budgeting, procurement, and implementation of local infrastructure projects.
The bill was filed on August 27, 2025 and remains pending in committee, according to the Senate’s legislative record. Its long title states that it seeks to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance by barring lawmakers from intervening in local infrastructure projects.
Under the proposal, senators and House members would be prohibited from initiating, endorsing, inserting, or influencing the inclusion of local infrastructure projects in the national budget. They would also be barred from directing agencies or local government units to implement specific projects using national funds, interfering in procurement and contract awards, or acting as contractors, suppliers, project implementers, or middlemen in local infrastructure projects.
The bill states that local infrastructure proposals funded by the national government should originate from concerned LGUs, subject to alignment with national development plans and evaluation by agencies such as the DBM, DILG, DPWH, DEPDev, and MMDA. It also requires approved projects, funding sources, and implementation details to be published on public government websites, including PhilGEPS, DBM, and LGU portals.
Padilla’s office framed the measure as a response to the long-running problem of political influence in public works spending, saying government projects should be based on actual community needs rather than political interest. The proposal says violators may face censure or suspension by their chamber, administrative sanctions, and possible criminal prosecution if the acts violate anti-graft, ethics, or other penal laws.
