The Senate ended its public consultations on the “Kontra Dinastiya” bill on Thursday in Cagayan de Oro as part of the nationwide push to level the political playing field.
Meanwhile, Speaker Faustino Dy III on Thursday underscored the importance of Visayas stakeholders as the House of Representatives brought its nationwide consultations on the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act to Cebu City.
The regional hearing was held at the University of the Philippines Cebu, drawing participants from across the Visayas to discuss the long-debated reform measure.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros presided over the session to align the proposed anti-political dynasty legislation with regional perspectives.
“We are already familiar with the harms associated with the dynasty system, where concentrated power in a few families often comes with corruption, poverty, and a lack of accountability, and where personal interests frequently take precedence over public service for ordinary Filipinos,” she said.
“There are three core issues that need to be addressed… first is the degree of relationship… second is the scope of prohibition… third is whether the ban should be simultaneous or successive,” the senator explained.
Hontiveros also cited the recent filing of Senate Bill No. 1854 by Senator Loren Legarda, adding to the existing six anti-dynasty bills considered by the committee.
“Some have asked why not focus on fixing corruption, flood control, or poverty instead, but research is clear: when dynasties exist, corruption is highly likely, as greed and wrongdoing are easily hidden when those who should provide checks and balances are family members, and poverty often deepens with wealth failing to reach the wider population,” she said.
Alongside Hontiveros, Senator Francis Pangilinan encouraged attendees to use available channels to express support and pressure lawmakers for the bill’s passage, pointing out that while legislators draft and debate the law, grassroots involvement is crucial to ensuring Congress enacts the measure.
Hundreds of participants attended from various sectors in Northern Mindanao, including local officials, legal experts, church leaders, civil society organizers, business representatives, and youth groups.
The Cagayan de Oro consultation concluded the committee’s nationwide series, which previously held sessions in Pasig, Laguna, Bacolod, and Bulacan.
In a video message, Dy said the House intentionally moved consultations outside Metro Manila to ensure the proposal reflects nationwide sentiment.
“Ngayon naman po ay lumalapit ang Kongreso sa inyo, mga mahal naming taga-Visayas, dahil ang inyong tinig at damdamin ay aming pinahahalagahan at isinasaalang-alang,” Dy said.
(Now, Congress comes to you, our dear people of Visayas, because your voice and your sentiments are what we value and consider.)
The Cebu hearing follows the first round of consultations in Carmona, Cavite, and forms part of a three-island cluster approach that will also include a Mindanao leg in Cagayan de Oro City.
The initiative is spearheaded by House leadership and implemented by the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms chaired by Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong.
Dy, along with House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, authored House Bill 6771, one of 24 anti-political dynasty measures filed in the chamber.
The bill seeks to operationalize the 1987 Constitution’s prohibition on political dynasties by defining prohibited family relationships and limiting the holding of elective office.
Dy thanked Cebu stakeholders for participating in the consultations, calling their input vital to crafting a constitutionally sound and responsive law.
He cited lessons from the Cavite hearing, saying discussions were candid and reflected diverse perspectives.
According to Dy, the exchanges “strengthened our understanding of the complexities of the issue.”
Adiong earlier said the consultations aim to gather concrete public input on key policy questions, including the scope of family relationships to be covered and the elective posts that would be affected.
With Cebu hosting the Visayas leg, Dy stressed that reform would gain legitimacy only if it reflects the collective voice of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
