Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

Business groups slam 'watered-down' anti-dynasty bill

Members of the House of Representatives gather at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City for the scheduled plenary discussion of the Articles of Impeachment filed against Vice President  Sara Duterte on May 11, 2026.   Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Raine Musñgi

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — A coalition of the country&#x27;s leading business, governance and civil society organizations is urging the Senate to reject or substantially rewrite the House-approved anti-political dynasty bill, warning that instead of dismantling entrenched political clans, the measure could end up legitimizing them.The groups, led by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), argue that House Bill No. 8389, recently approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives, contains loopholes that allow political families to continue dominating elective posts through succession, position-switching and holding different offices.&quot;They must take us for fools for them to pass that kind of proposed legislation,&quot; MAP Ethics Committee Chair Alex Cabrera said during an interview on ANC&#x27;s Business Outlook. &quot;Forty years after the 1987 Constitution, you come up with a bill which is actually a pro-dynasty bill, very contrary to the intent of the constitutional framers.&quot;The House approved HB 8389 by a vote of 267-20, with seven abstentions, sending the measure to the Senate, where it will undergo further deliberations before it can be transmitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for approval or veto.<div>&#x27;Fake anti-dynasty law&#x27;</div>The Constitution mandates the State to prohibit political dynasties &quot;as may be defined by law,&quot; but nearly four decades later, Congress has yet to enact a comprehensive implementing measure.HB 8389 seeks to prohibit relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from simultaneously holding elective office in the same political unit.For Cabrera, however, that restriction is too limited to make a meaningful difference.&quot;It doesn&#x27;t prohibit succession. It doesn&#x27;t prohibit switching,&quot; he said. <div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vktxebx7hl0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>Under the bill, he argued, family members could still alternate positions from one election to another or seek different elective offices, allowing political influence to remain concentrated within the same families.&quot;The saddest thing about it is that after almost 40 years, you come up with a bill which is actually a pro-dynasty bill,&quot; Cabrera added. Business groups have described the proposal as a diluted measure that could institutionalize rather than dismantle political dynasties.<div>Governance issue or economic issue?</div>For the business community, the debate goes beyond electoral reform.Cabrera said entrenched political dynasties create an uneven business environment by distorting competition and weakening investor confidence.&quot;Business groups thrive well in a level playing field where everything is based on meritocracy,&quot; he said. According to Cabrera, political influence often extends beyond elections into government contracts, infrastructure projects and industries where public officials may have business interests.&quot;The market barriers exist wherever there are dynasties. They are into contracts, they are into mineral extraction, they intervene in businesses that they have interests in,&quot; he said. He said governance failures ultimately carry economic costs.Public infrastructure, he noted, is supposed to generate jobs, lower logistics costs and attract investment. When projects are delayed or fail to materialize, economic activity suffers.&quot;If your infrastructure projects are ghost projects, then no one earns income from it,&quot; Cabrera said. &quot;You can crowd in investments because infrastructure shows commitment. You can lower logistics costs.&quot; The Philippines has consistently identified infrastructure, regulatory reforms and good governance as key drivers of investment under its economic development agenda. Business organizations have likewise argued that predictable institutions and transparent governance are critical to improving investor confidence.<div>&#x27;The Philippines is not a poor country&#x27;</div>Cabrera also argued that corruption has imposed costs far beyond the money allegedly lost to irregularities.&quot;When you talk about decades and decades of this happening, you&#x27;re actually talking about trillions,&quot; he said. He lamented what he described as lost opportunities for housing, healthcare, education and economic development.&quot;The Philippines is not a poor country at all,&quot; Cabrera said.&quot;We could have done so much. We could have been one of the first-world countries by now.&quot;Academic studies over the past two decades have found links between entrenched political dynasties, weaker political competition, higher poverty incidence in some provinces and slower institutional development, although researchers note that local outcomes vary and are influenced by multiple factors.<div>Attention shifts to the Senate</div>With the bill now moving to the Senate, Cabrera said the coalition hopes lawmakers will substantially revise the proposal instead of simply adopting the House version.&quot;We&#x27;re not optimistic,&quot; he admitted. The coalition has also floated the possibility of pursuing a People&#x27;s Initiative, a constitutional process that allows citizens to propose legislation through a nationwide signature campaign -- should Congress ultimately fail to enact what it considers a genuine anti-political dynasty law.For Cabrera, however, the broader objective goes beyond any single piece of legislation.&quot;There&#x27;s something just as dangerous as corruption itself,&quot; he said. &quot;The mindset that there&#x27;s nothing we can do about it.&quot;

Business groups say the House bill contains loopholes that allow political families to continue dominating elective posts through succession, position-switching and holding different offices.

Business groups say the House bill contains loopholes that allow political families to continue dominating elective posts through succession, position-switching and holding different offices.

Biz groups slam 'watered-down' anti-dynasty bill, warn it may entrench political families

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Business

Biz groups slam 'watered-down' anti-dynasty bill, warn it may entrench political families

Raine Musñgi,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 27, 2026 08:00 AM PHT

Read More:

Management Association of the Philippines

MAP

political dynasties

governance

political reform

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.