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MANILA, Philippines - As Congress deliberates on the anti-political dynasty bill, an Asian Institute of Management 2012 study lists the top 10 provinces in the country with the biggest “dynastic share.”
According to the "Inequality in democracy: Insights from an empirical analysis of political dynasties in the 15th Congress,” a copy of which was provided InterAksyon.com, they are: Maguindanao, Apayao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Negros Occidental, Ilocos Sur, Quirino, and, Cebu.
The study’s authors, Ronald Mendoza, David Yap, Edsel Beja Jr., and Victor Venida also found that:
- 70% of the 15th Congress is dynastic, with dynasties dominating all major political parties.
- On the average, there are more dynasties in regions with higher poverty and lower human development.
- Dynasties tend to be richer (with higher Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net worth).
- 80% of the youngest congressmen (age 26-40) are more dynastic clans.
Poverty and political dynasties
The study, cited in separate sponsorship speeches of Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice and Pampanga Representative Oscar Rodriguez, gave "strong evidence that the more severe poverty is, the higher the prevalence of political dynasties."
Rodriguez quoted an analysis in the study, which said: "Given that the poor are most vulnerable to political patronage and manipulation as well as practical to sell their votes, a worsening, if not unchanging, poverty would be beneficial to political dynasties."
"Since the largest political dynasties would, in most situations, be the families that have cultivated the most extensive networks of patronage, accumulated the most political and financial capital, and have access to the largest political machineries, they would be in the best position to take advantage of vulnerable economically disadvantaged voters," the study said.
ACT Teachers partylist Representative Antonio Tinio said that Congress and successive Presidents "have failed to prohibit the oligarchic rule of elite families as mandated in the Constitution."
Tinio cited a 2007 study of the Center for People Empowerment and Governance that estimated that 94 percent of all provinces in the country have political dynasties, with an average of 2.3 political families per province.
Tinio said there is now a clamor among the people for good governance and greater transparency and the growing opposition to political dynasties.
"The entrenchment of dynasties in the political branches of government is a great obstacle to the enactment of an anti-political dynasty law, but the Filipino people's resolve is greater," Tinio said.
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