State-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has urged the Senate to harmonize pending anti-political dynasty bills into a single measure, warning that unchecked dynasties continue to weaken governance and perpetuate inequality.

In an Aug. 20 comment on three Senate bills (SBs) under consideration, PIDS senior research fellow Jose Ramon G. Albert said political dynasties remain deeply entrenched in the country, with 87 percent of governors and 80 percent of district representatives elected in the midterm 2025 elections last May coming from dynastic families.

Citing analysis by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Albert pointed out that 18 “obese dynasties”—those with five or more relatives elected—were found to control multiple elective posts across different jurisdictions.

“The expansion of dynastic control has accelerated significantly in recent decades, with ‘fat dynasties’—those with multiple simultaneous officeholders—becoming increasingly dominant,” Albert noted.

For Albert, “failure to regulate political dynasties perpetuates democratic deficits that undermine both governmental accountability and inclusive development.”

It did not help that “the relationship between political dynasties and underdevelopment appears particularly acute in the Philippines’ poorest provinces,” he said, citing recent research showing that “dynasties also increase political violence, undermining democratic checks and balances essential for accountable governance.”

The three pending measures cited by Albert were SB No. 18 filed by Sen. Robin Padilla, SB 35 authored by senators Panfilo Lacson and Raffy Tulfo, and SB 285 introduced by Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

Albert described SB 18 as the most comprehensive, citing its broad coverage of relatives up to the fourth degree and provisions against simultaneous candidacies and immediate succession. However, he warned that its scope may pose enforcement challenges for the poll body Commission on Elections (Comelec).

On SB 35, Albert said it presents a more measured approach by limiting coverage to the second degree of consanguinity and exempting barangay officials. While more practical to implement, he noted the need to strengthen provisions against potential loopholes, especially in party-list positions.

Meanwhile, Albert assessed SB 285 as the most aggressive, with its nationwide prohibition on relatives of national officials running for any elective position. He cautioned that such a broad ban could be overly restrictive and counterproductive, suggesting that limiting it to the incumbent’s home province or region might achieve similar effects.

To reconcile these differences, Albert recommended consolidating the strongest provisions of each bill into a single, coherent measure. He also stressed the need to bolster Comelec’s enforcement capacity, invest in digital kinship tracking, and consider a phased rollout beginning in provinces where dynasties are most entrenched.

“These bills represent crucial steps toward fulfilling a long-delayed constitutional mandate and strengthening Philippine democracy. With appropriate refinements addressing enforcement capacity, implementation timing, and complementary reforms, anti-dynasty legislation could significantly expand political participation and improve governance outcomes,” Albert said.

“Success will require not only legislative passage but also sustained political commitment to building the institutional capacity necessary for effective enforcement... Conversely, well-designed and effectively implemented dynasty restrictions could mark a decisive step toward a more participatory and representative political system that better serves all Filipino citizens,” he added.

(Ricardo M. Austria)