MANILA – A House-backed study suggests that the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Bill may lead to the displacement of thousands of local officials, emphasizing its potential to disrupt entrenched political families in the Philippines.
Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, chair of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, cited a preliminary analysis by the Socioeconomic Research Bureau (SERB) under the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department. The bureau reviewed Commission on Elections (Comelec) data across provincial, district, and municipal posts.
Findings indicate that more than half of local positions—9,852 out of 17,983—are held by potential members of dynastic families, representing around 4,239 families. Adiong explained that the bill’s second-degree consanguinity and affinity limit is “both feasible and meaningful,” projecting that over 5,000 elective seats could become vacant under the law.
This aligns with the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) survey results, which revealed that 61 percent of mayors in 1,493 municipalities come from families with prior political involvement. Only 39 percent of mayors are from non-dynastic backgrounds.
Adiong emphasized that the data confirms the committee version of HB 8389 is likely to produce tangible results without being overly complicated to implement. The bill’s plenary debate is set for Wednesday afternoon.
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