MISAMIS ORIENTAL — An anti-political dynasty bill can hurdle the House of Representatives before the Lenten recess and then be transmitted to the Senate.

Lawmakers gave the assurance at the conclusion of a two-day nationwide public consultation held here on 19-20 February, describing the measure as being on track for plenary deliberations in the lower chamber.

The proposed legislation has been identified as a priority measure by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, a development that panel members said strengthens prospects for its passage.

Among those who attended the Mindanao consultation were Representatives Ziaur-Rahman Adiong of Lanao del Sur, Lordan Suan of Cagayan de Oro, Yevgeny Vincente Emano and Jennifer Lagbas of Misamis Oriental, Jonathan Keith Flores of Bukidnon, Rachel Marguerite del Mar of Cebu City, Sarah Jane Elago of Gabriela partylist, and Nathaniel Oducado of 1Tahanan partylist.

The Cagayan de Oro gathering marked the final leg of a series of provincial consultations conducted by the panel to solicit public input from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Earlier hearings were held in Cavite and Cebu.

Well-attended forum

The Mindanao consultation, staged at the DRER Hall, drew participants from various sectors, including youth organizations, academic institutions, the legal community, and religious groups.

Some attendees traveled from as far as Tangub City to register support for the measure.

Prior to the regional hearings, the committee met with legal experts to consolidate 24 filed anti-dynasty bills into a single substitute measure intended for plenary approval before transmittal to the Senate.

If enacted, the bill would establish clear statutory parameters to define and prohibit political dynasties, in line with the Constitution’s mandate directing Congress to prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.