Want to end political dynasties? Here’s how you can help make it happen

Your signature could help push for a law that limits political families' hold on public office. Watch the video to learn how. MANILA, Philippines – Do you want to help put an end to political dynasties in the Philippines? The People’s Initiative Coalition Against Dynasty (PICAD) is giving registered voters a way to take part through Dapat Isa Lang, a digital platform launched to gather signatures in support of a proposed nationwide ban on political dynasties. PICAD aims to collect 7.5 million signatures by January 31, 2027, before submitting the petition to the Commission on Elections for verification. The initiative comes amid longstanding concerns over how politics in the Philippines has become a family affair, with powerful clans dominating local and national governance. Decades of research have linked the concentration of political power among dynasties to persistent poverty, weakened checks and balances, and conditions that allow corruption to thrive. Nearly 39 years after the 1987 Constitution explicitly mandated a ban on political dynasties, Congress has repeatedly failed to pass an enabling law, leaving the same powerful families to inherit and swap public offices unchecked. With Congress failing to act, PICAD is turning to a People’s Initiative despite anti-dynasty bills already pending in the legislature. According to PICAD, the anti-dynasty bills pending in Congress would not effectively prohibit political dynasties. For instance, House Bill No. 8389 only covers relatives up to the second degree within the same government unit. PICAD wants a broader ban that would cover relatives up to the fourth degree. “The measures now before Congress do not go far enough to end the concentration and perpetuation of political power within families. If a political family can continue to hold or seek elective office simply by moving from one position or jurisdiction to another, then we have not addressed the problem the Constitution requires the law to address,” Dapat Isa Lang spokesperson and lawyer Carlo Africa said. Under the proposed People’s Initiative law, only one family member would be allowed to hold a national elective post and another a local elective post simultaneously. The proposal also strictly forbids relatives from swapping seats or switching jurisdictions to perpetuate family control. Registered voters can read the proposed law and sign the petition through D1L.org. The platform also provides a step-by-step guide to the process. Watch this video to learn more about the initiative and how you can participate. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading