PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has heard the interminable criticism from all corners against political dynasties, perceived as enabling widespread corruption and nepotism.
This week, the 68-year-old President pushed for the swift passage of key reforms, including the anti-political dynasty measure, independent people’s commission bill, amendments to the party-list system and a bill strengthening accountability on public finance.
The President, during a meeting with the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, grasped the nettle and, without hesitation, urged Congress which will adjourn before the Christmas holidays, to prioritize the four bills, according to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.
The President’s moves signifies taking a decisive, bold action to solve a problem or seize an opportunity rather than avoiding it.
These proposals cover the Anti-Political Dynasty bill; Independent People’s Commission Act; Party-list System Reform Act; and Citizens Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability or CADENA Act to institutionalize transparency and accountability on public finance.
The President instructed the Senate and the House of Representatives to “take a closer look” at the four priority measures and ensure their passage “as soon as possible.”
First off, the anti-dynasty bill prohibits individuals from running for or holding public office if they have a relative up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity who is an incumbent official at the national or local level.
These dynasties have been severely criticized because they are widely perceived to weaken democratic institutions, enable widespread corruption and nepotism, limit equal opportunity for public service, and are strongly linked to higher poverty rates and underdevelopment in areas they control.
We will see how Congress will address the Presidential order on taking a bold, decisive action to finally pass the long-pending Anti-Political Dynasty bill into law..
While there is no single, fixed number for Philippine political dynasties, we know they are extremely prevalent, with estimates showing over 70 percent of provinces and a vast majority of Congress dominated by political families.
Ballpark figures suggest there are over 170 dominant dynasties existing as of a 2010 analysis, demonstrating a systemic control of power despite the Constitution’s anti-political dynasty provision.
In the provinces, 73 out of 80, or 94 percent, have at least two dominant political families.
In the House of Representatives, 74 percent, or 170 representatives belong to political families while 80 percent, or 18 of 23 senators, are from political families in the Senate.
Given the current punching scenes on corruption and the obvious lack of transparency and accountability at present, the people will be closely watching how Congress will tackle the priority bills.
Their actions will not be ignored by a watching public, aching for transparency, accountability, and empowerment against corruption across government sectors including the infrastructure zone.
