Business sector seeks tougher Anti-Political Dynasty Law

A coalition of business and civic organizations is calling on Congress to adopt a stronger measure against political dynasties, warning that House Bill 6771 may fall short of its stated purpose.

Nearly four decades after the 1987 Constitution mandated the prohibition of political dynasties, no enabling law has been passed.

Reform advocates say this gap has allowed powerful families to maintain control over public office and, in many areas, influence local economic activity as well.

The coalition said House Bill 6771 still permits succession, substitution, rotation, and position-switching among relatives.

Under its provisions, family members could continue to seek or hold posts at different levels of government and across election cycles, effectively preserving political control within the same clan. Contrary to claims by its supporters, the group said the bill does not genuinely dismantle political dynasties.

They described the problem as institutional, noting that dominant political families often hold economic influence in their jurisdictions through control of permits, franchises, and private business interests that may benefit from their own policy decisions.

After consultations with business leaders and civil society groups, the coalition outlined what it considers essential elements of a meaningful Anti-Political Dynasty Law. These include prohibiting relatives up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from running for or holding elected office simultaneously or in succession, guided by a “one local, one national” representation principle.

The proposed framework would also strictly ban substitution, rotation, and position-switching schemes designed to evade term limits, and require a cooling-off period equivalent to one full electoral cycle to prevent consecutive family control of the same position.

If Congress fails to enact what they consider a substantive reform law, the group said it may pursue a People’s Initiative, citing digital verification mechanisms under the Philippine Identification System Act of 2018.

Among the signatories are the Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The coalition said curbing political dynasties is necessary to strengthen governance and ensure that public office is earned on merit, not inherited through family ties.