In a significant move to reform the political landscape, Speaker Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III has introduced House Bill 9906, which seeks to ban political dynasties and government contractors from the party-list system.
The proposed legislation aims to amend the current party-list law by disqualifying individuals related to sitting members of Congress up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity.
Additionally, it targets incumbent officials and those who have received government contracts in the five years leading up to an election.
Key Provisions of House Bill 9906
- Bans relatives of current lawmakers from party-list nominations.
- Prohibits current officials and contractors from participating as nominees.
- Imposes a cooling-off period of one election cycle for former officials.
- Requires party-list organizations to certify independence from political dynasties.
- Mandates financial record-keeping and annual financial reports.
Ang party-list system ay nilikha upang palawakin ang representasyon, hindi upang palawakin ang kapangyarihan ng iilang pamilya.
Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III, Speaker of the House
Dy emphasized that the party-list system must remain true to its purpose of amplifying the voices of marginalized sectors.
He expressed that the reforms are designed to safeguard the integrity of the party-list mechanism, which is crucial for enabling democratic representation.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will be empowered to audit party-list organizations and enforce penalties for non-compliance with the new regulations.