If everything goes to plan, the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Law will be included in President Marcos' annual "report card" this year-- i.e. his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.

Thus, said House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms Chairman Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, who went as far to say that the proposed law was the the "number one priority" among Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC)-listed bill.

“It’s actually the number one priority among the LEDAC priorities, and so we are pressed with time," Adiong said Thursday, Feb. 19 on the sidelines of the public consultations on the contentious measure at the University of the Philippines-Cebu (UP-Cebu).

"The leadership wants this measure to be done before the Lenten break because the leadership wants the Anti-Political Dynasty [Law to] be part of the SONA of the President in July,” he said.

Congress (House of Representatives and Senate) will be on break from March 21 to May 3. Meanwhile, President Marcos' fifth SONA is expected to be delivered at the plenary hall of the House of Representatives on July. 27.

Traditionally, Presidents use the SONA to mention and play up his or her administration's achievements since the previous year's speech. And it's hard to have an achievement bigger than passing the very contentious anti-political dynasty measure.

While the 1987 Constitution provides for a ban on political dynasties, Congress has never been able to pass an implementing law for it in the past four decades.

Adiong delivered the opening message during the Cebu public consultation, which was the second of three such events organized by the suffrage panel.

“First of all let me thank the honorable [House] Speaker Faustino ‘Bodjie’ Dy III for his leadership and for his commitment to ensuring that the voices of the people are heard on this measure,” he said in his remarks.

He emphasized that the law being crafted “will influence the democratic institutions you inherit tomorrow", and stressed that the House was determined to listen to the people of the Visayas before finalizing any measure.

"This is your opportunity to speak. It is our duty, as your representatives, to listen,” Adiong told the participants.

Joining Adiong were several authors of the 24 individual anti-political dynasty bills referred to his committee in the current 20th Congress.

The Luzon leg of the consultations were carried out at Carsigma Gym in Carmona, Cavite last Feb.12. On Friday, Feb. 20, the University of Science & Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP), Cagayan de Oro City will host the Mindanao leg of the discussions.