The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, on Tuesday formally began committee deliberations on bills seeking to ban political dynasties, a constitutional mandate that has remained unimplemented since 1987.
The Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, chaired by Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, launched the hearings to enforce the constitutional provision guaranteeing equal access to public service.
Dy underscored the urgency of the measure.
“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,” he said.
He stressed the House’s commitment to a serious and inclusive discussion.
“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 added.
The Speaker noted that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. identified the measure as a priority during the recent LEDAC meeting.
“The President himself recognizes that it is time to pass this measure,” Dy said.
He filed House Bill No. 6771 with Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, one of the bills taken up in the hearing.
Adiong described the session as historic: “This hearing is historic. For decades, the constitutional provision on political dynasties has existed as a promise waiting to be fulfilled. Today, for the first time in a serious and deliberate way, the House of Representatives takes a decisive step toward giving life to that promise.”
He emphasized that the initiative is not an attack on families but a constitutional duty.
“More importantly, credible surveys consistently show that a majority of Filipinos – more than half of our people – want this reform enacted. When the President, the leadership of the House, and the people themselves converge on a reform, it is not only an opportunity. It is a duty,” Adiong added.
The committee committed to a careful and rigorous process, consulting constitutional scholars, election law experts, and civil society to craft a consolidated version that is “constitutionally sound, effective and responsive to the nation’s needs.”