Like a Family-Owned Store: The Impact of Political Dynasties in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Imagine this: there’s a small family-owned store in your barangay. The father is the owner, the mother is the cashier, the brother delivers the goods, and the sister manages the books. If sales go missing or Aling Nena’s debt is overcharged, who investigates? No one but their own family. Would any of them dare to admit someone made a mistake? Of course not, because they all work together to hide their shortcomings.

This is exactly what’s happening in the Philippines with political dynasties. According to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), 71 out of 82 provinces in the country are controlled by political clans. From local barangays to the Senate, our government has become like a family-owned store—where one family holds all the power.

Inherited Power, Not Earned

Take the Marcos family as an example. Bongbong Marcos is the president, Imee Marcos is a senator, and Martin Romualdez is the Speaker of the House of Representatives. When it comes to major decisions like the national budget, can Imee contradict her brother Bongbong? Can Martin challenge the plans of his cousin? Most likely not. It’s like a family store—no one blames their own.

If there’s an anomaly in disaster relief funds, would Imee question why aid didn’t reach the victims? Wouldn’t she choose to remain silent to avoid embarrassing their family? Martin Romualdez, as Speaker, is supposed to scrutinize government spending and laws certified as urgent by the president. But would he dare confront his own cousin? Certainly not.

The Villars, Dutertes, and Other Political Clans

The Villar family isn’t an exception. Cynthia Villar is a senator, and her daughter Camille Villar is also running for Senate. Is this a passing of the throne? If Camille becomes a senator, can she fairly review the projects left by her mother or brother, also a senator? Or will she turn a blind eye to avoid causing conflict?

The Duterte family tells a similar story. Rodrigo Duterte served as president, his daughter Sara Duterte is now vice president, and his son Paolo is a congressman. When policies fail, who speaks out? None of them, because family loyalty takes precedence.

The Harmful Effects of Political Dynasties

Provinces controlled by political dynasties often receive larger budgets, but they also suffer from higher levels of poverty and inequality. A 2019 study by Ateneo School of Government revealed that areas under political dynasties tend to be poorer and more corrupt. It’s like a family-owned store earning large profits but mismanaging expenses.

Governments are supposed to work like a team of independent individuals with different perspectives to ensure transparency. But under dynasties, they end up checking and approving their own work, eliminating accountability.

Why Can’t It Be Stopped?

The Philippine Constitution has long mandated a ban on political dynasties, but why is there no law enforcing it? Because those in power belong to the very clans it seeks to regulate. Naturally, they wouldn’t want to limit their own influence.

What’s the Solution?

We need laws that explicitly prohibit political dynasties. We should elect leaders based on merit and competence, not their family names. It’s time to end this system.

Let’s start the change by voting wisely. Push for reforms that will dismantle the stronghold of political dynasties. The future of the Philippines lies in the hands of its people, and we must ensure that power is returned to the citizens, not monopolized by a few families.