Speaker Dy's new bill takes aim at dynasties' party-list backdoor

June 23, 2026 | 2:56pm

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Bojie Dy is seeking to bar close relatives of sitting lawmakers, government contractors and other elective officials from serving as party-list representatives.

Dy filed House Bill 9906, or the proposed New Party-list System Act, on Monday, June 22, with members of the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc.

The bill proposes "sweeping safeguards against political dynasties, conflict of interests and undue political influence" in the party-list system, according to a news release from Dy's office.

Among its provisions is a ban on party-list nominees with close ties to incumbent House members, government contractors and other elective officials.

"Ang party-list system ay nilikha upang palawakin ang representasyon, hindi upang palawakin ang kapangyarihan ng iilang pamilya," Dy said in a press statement.

(The party-list system was created to broaden representation, not to expand the power of a few families.)

The bill has been identified as a priority measure by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

Who would be barred?

Dy said the party-list system must adhere to its original purpose of representing sectors and communities in lawmaking, requiring stricter rules on nominees.

The bill seeks to disqualify the following from becoming party-list nominees:

• People related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to a sitting senator or House member
• Incumbent elective officials such as governors, mayors and provincial board members
• People awarded government contracts, concessions, franchises or public-private partnership agreements within five years before an election
• Officers and controlling shareholders of companies with government contracts

The bill would also require a cooling-off period of one election cycle for former elective officials and candidates before they may hold a party-list seat.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism reported that half of party-list lawmakers belong to active political dynasties, with family members holding elective office.

Under Dy's bill, party-list organizations would be required to certify that they were not established by political dynasties and are not linked to anyone with beneficial interests in government contracts.

They would also be required to keep financial records and disclose contributions.

"The Commission on Elections would be authorized to conduct audits and impose sanctions for noncompliance," the statement read.

Earlier anti-dynasty bill

Dy also authored House Bill 8389, a separate anti-political dynasty measure that seeks to prohibit relatives of elected officials from holding elective positions within the same jurisdiction.

The earlier bill passed on third and final reading at the House on June 3.

Critics, however, slammed the measure as "fake" and "watered down" because it covers only relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, including spouses, children, parents and siblings.