Senator Risa Hontiveros said she is hopeful the anti-political dynasty bill will be passed in March, but called on local governments and student groups in Negros to pass resolutions in support of the measure to boost its chances.
“I am not yet optimistic, I am hopeful — that’s even stronger,” Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, said on Friday, Feb. 13.
Hontiveros led a public consultation on the anti-political dynasty bill at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State University, Alijis Campus, in Bacolod City.
The “Kontra Dinastiya” bill seeks to curb the influence of entrenched political families by limiting the number of relatives who can simultaneously hold public office.
“We all recognize that Negros has long been shaped by strong political families. That’s part of our history, but we also know that this province has produced reformers, advocates, and leaders who believe the change is possible,” Hontiveros said.
She said government under the control of a few families often breeds corruption, poverty, and a lack of accountability, which is why the anti-political dynasty measure is being pushed.
Instead of service to the Filipino people, personal interests and gains prevail under political dynasties, she said.
“This bill is not against any family. It is about widening democratic space. It is about making sure that leadership is open to even more Negrenses, to even more Filipinos. Not just a few names or few families,” she added.
The Bacolod leg was the third of several consultations being held nationwide, Hontiveros said.
“We want to bring the consultations closer to the ground… to get more perspectives on the anti-dynasty bill from the different sectors,” she said.
She said they are working within a timeframe to ensure the bill can be finished by the end of next month.
The bill is authored by one-fourth of the members of the Senate, while 22 similar bills have been filed in the House of Representatives, Hontiveros said.
It is a Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council priority and is listed as priority legislation even by the Office of the President, she added.
If people participate and pass resolutions of support to be sent to the Senate and House of Representatives, they can really make a difference, she said.
The consultation gathered local government officials, former legislators, lawyers, professors, labor leaders, and student representatives.
Among the attendees were Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya, Himamaylan City Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao, former Rep. Gary Alejano of the Magdalo Partylist, and former Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Jose Max Ortiz.
Also among the panelists were former provincial elections supervisor Jessie Suarez, lawyer Rey Gorgonio —president of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, Priscilla Goco of the Partido Manggagawa, Ken Paolo Gilo of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, and Dr. Bernaldo Eres of the University of St. La Salle.
Suarez said he supports the anti-political dynasty bill but hopes more electoral reforms are also pushed. If the automated vote count system is not amended, cheating at the polls will continue, Suarez said.
Gilo called on student governments to pass resolutions in support of the bill.*
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