House revives long-delayed effort to implement Anti-Political dynasty provision

Nearly four decades after the 1987 Constitution called for the prohibition of political dynasties, the House of Representatives on Tuesday moved to revive the long-delayed reform by opening committee deliberations on measures seeking to regulate and ban political dynasties.

The renewed push began with the inaugural hearing of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, chaired by Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong. Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III attended the hearing and is the principal author of one of the 20 anti-political dynasty bills currently pending in the House.

In his opening remarks, Dy underscored that while the Constitution explicitly calls for equal access to public service, the absence of an enabling law has prevented the provision from being enforced for nearly 40 years.

“Ang panukalang Anti-Political Dynasty Bill ay matagal nang hinihintay ng sambayanang Pilipino. It has been close to 40 years since our Constitution was ratified with a provision intended to ‘guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties.’ Ngunit kulang po ito ng isang enabling law—at ito po ang nais nating ipasa sa 20th Congress,” Dy said.

The Speaker from Isabela said the House, under his leadership, is now prepared to confront the issue head-on and fully consider its legal, political, and social implications.

“Ang anti-political dynasty bill ay usaping matagal nang tinatalakay, ngunit ngayon ay malinaw ang aming hangarin na seryosong talakayin ito ng Kapulungan nang buo, tapat, at may malasakit sa bayan at sa kinabukasan ng bansa,” Dy emphasized.

“Panahon na pag-usapan nang husto para makapagpasa tayo ng isang panukala na katanggap-tanggap ng ating mga kababayan at ng ating mga kapwa lingkod-bayan,” he added.

Dy described the proposed measure as part of a broader package of democratic reforms intended to strengthen public institutions and widen access to public office beyond political families.

“Tandaan po natin: simula pa lamang ito ng mas malawak na mga repormang layuning palakasin ang ating demokrasya, palawakin ang patas na pagkakataon sa paglilingkod-bayan, at ibalik ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa ating mga institusyon,” he said.

The House leader also noted that the proposal has gained executive backing, having been identified as a priority by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the most recent meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

“The President himself recognizes that it is time to pass this measure. Sa huling LEDAC, isinama po nya ang anti-political dynasty act sa mga priority measures,” Dy said.

Dy filed House Bill No. 6771 jointly with Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, one of the bills discussed during the hearing.

According to Dy, the committee hearings are designed to solicit a wide range of views and carefully assess the potential impact of the proposed legislation.

“Kaya po tayo nagsasagawa ng mga pagdinig na tulad nito upang marinig ang lahat ng panig, ang iba’t ibang pananaw, at ang buong saklaw ng magiging implikasyon ng panukalang batas,” he explained.

He stressed that the House leadership intends to keep the deliberations inclusive and consultative.

“Nandito po kami hindi lamang upang magsalita, kundi higit sa lahat upang makinig. Bukas ang aming isipan, at bukas din ang aming kalooban sa makabuluhan at tapat na pag-uusap,” he said.

Dy also urged fellow lawmakers to approach the issue with openness as the discussions continue.

“Huwag po nating isara ang ating isipan. Huwag tayong magpakulong sa mga nakapirming paninindigan. Ang layunin ng pagdinig na ito ay maglinaw, magtimbang, at magpalalim ng pag-unawa upang magabayan nang wasto ang mga mambabatas sa kanilang magiging pasya,” Dy said.

He expressed hope that the deliberations would result in a substantive and constructive exchange.

“Inaasahan natin ang isang tapat at makabuluhang talakayan na tunay na magsisilbi sa kapakanan ng ating bayan,” he said.