A coalition of 31 of the Philippines’ most influential business and civic organizations called on the legislature to pass a “genuine” law banning political dynasties, labeling the struggle against entrenched family rule as a fundamental fight against systemic corruption.

In a joint statement released Thursday, Feb. 12, groups including the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) argued that the nation cannot decouple itself from the “bondage of corruption” so long as political dynasties continue to thrive.

“For our nation to finally break free from the bondage of corruption, political dynasties should no longer thrive,” the business groups said.

The move puts significant private-sector pressure on the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has identified the anti-political dynasty law as a priority for the 20th Congress.

Presidential son and House Majority Leader Rep. Sandro Marcos is currently pushing for this reform in the House of Representatives under House Bill (HB) No. 6771, which he authored alongside House Speaker Faustino Dy III.

The business groups acknowledged that the proposed measure is a semblance of progress in the fight for a genuine Anti-Political Dynasty Law, but they stressed that it still falls short of the Constitution's intent

“HB 6771 permits succession, switching, substitution, and rotation among relatives, enabling family members to occupy elective positions across levels of government and across election cycles, effectively preserving monopoly over political power. In reality, HB 6771 is a pro-dynasty measure,” they said.

The 1987 Constitution states: “the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

If Congress proceeds with HB No. 6771, the business groups said political power will remain concentrated in a handful of influential families, further perpetuating poverty and corruption.

They added that this would only strengthen the influence of political dynasties, not only in government but also in the private sector.

“Many dynasties also dominate local economies through franchises, personal business, and the favored granting of permits, tightening their grip on both political and economic life,” the groups noted.

To ensure the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Law is truly effective, business groups said the measure should prohibit relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from running for, or from simultaneously or consecutively holding, elective office.

They said this would uphold the “one local, one national” representation principle to limit the dominance of a single family.

“Provided, however, that if no relative is serving or seeking office at the national level, up to two relatives may hold or seek local elective positions, provided further that their respective jurisdictions shall not overlap,” they said.

The groups added that the measure must explicitly prohibit substitution, rotation, and position-switching among prohibited relatives to prevent circumvention of term limits.

In addition, they called for the establishment of a mandatory cooling-off period equal to one full electoral cycle for both term-limited officials and their relatives. This would prevent officials from immediately seeking the same position in successive elections.

If Congress fails to pass an Anti-Dynasty Law incorporating these recommendations, the business groups urged the public to exercise their constitutional right to enact legislation through a People’s Initiative.

They said such a process could be conducted digitally, using QR codes, biometrics, and specimen signatures to securely verify voter identity, as provided for in the Philippine Identification System Act.

“Merit, not lineage, must determine who serves the Filipino people,” the groups said.

The joint statement was signed by the MAP, MBC, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), Justice Reform Initiative (JRI), Advocates for National Interest (ANI), Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM), Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice (ACPAPP), Bukluran ng Mangagawang Pilipino (BMP), Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), De La Salle Brothers, Inc. (DLSBI), De La Salle Philippines (DLSP), Energy Lawyers Association of the Philippines (ELAP), FEU Public Policy Center, Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (ILEDF), and Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA).

It was also signed by the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), Institute of Philippine Real Estate Appraisers (IPREA), Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, Inc., Kontra Dinastiya, Military Uniformed Personnel (MUP 4 United PH), Movement for Restoration of Peace & Order (MRPO), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), Philippine Institute of Arbitrators (PIArb), Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), Sanlakas, Seniors on the Move, Shareholders' Association of the Philippines (SharePHIL), UP Engineering Research & Development Foundation, Inc. (UPERDFI), and Women for Action Towards Reform (AWARE).