Killing the goose

President Aquino got Congress to pass the laws on reproductive health and sin taxes, and just recently the anti-trust and cabotage laws. He also got Congress to impeach Merceditas Gutierrez as ombudsman and kick out Renato Corona as chief justice.

So P-Noy is reportedly optimistic that he can get Congress to pass the enabling law banning political dynasties. If he can set realistic targets, perhaps his optimism won’t be misplaced.

P-Noy’s feats in his legislative agenda, however, were achieved using the persuasive power of the pork barrel and its cousin, the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

For every fiscal year, a president has to choose his battles. P-Noy has to decide where to invest precious political capital to get what he wants from lawmakers notorious for self-enrichment and navel gazing.

In the final session of the 16th Congress, P-Noy faces a bruising battle over the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Already much delayed, the BBL is certain to be watered down by Congress. What’s uncertain is whether the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will accept a version of the BBL that is as mutilated as the corpses of the 44 Special Action Force commandos slaughtered in Maguindanao.

Even P-Noy’s other priority bill, which rationalizes fiscal incentives, is going to be a hard sell, with all the influential vested interests financing powerful lobbies in Congress.

Wheeling and dealing between Malacañang and Congress is also expected to be tough over the proposed “continuity” appropriation for 2016, which is an election budget. The DAP and Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) have been abolished, but we can bet that lawmakers will find creative ways of controlling large chunks of people’s money for their election purposes.

Daang matuwid has vowed on everyone’s grave that it’s done away with “pork”-type funds, but critics aren’t buying it. Already former senator Panfilo Lacson is threatening to take to the Supreme Court his accusation that DAP and PDAF-type funds are hidden in the proposed 2016 General Appropriations Act. This will be one of the most closely scrutinized budget bills ever.

The obstacles are formidable, and it would be a great day for the nation if an anti-dynasty law is passed.

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Dynasty building is so widespread Malacañang is skirting questions on whether the administration coalition, after P-Noy’s announced push for the anti-dynasty bill, will field candidates belonging to dynasties in 2016.

If P-Noy and his Liberal Party say they’re keeping out dynasts from their 2016 roster, they either think Pinoys are naïfs or else LP ranks are about to be decimated nationwide.

Opposition stalwarts weren’t the only ones who were hit by P-Noy’s swipe at dynasties in his final State of the Nation Address last Monday. Probably four-fifths of the assembled lawmakers and even some members of his official family are dynasts or working to build a dynasty.

Rather than serve as a deterrent, however, this fact should highlight the seriousness of the problem and the importance of passing the anti-dynasty law.

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With the modest pay for Philippine public servants, working for the government should not be seen as an attractive career prospect. Instead politics has become one of the most lucrative family businesses in this country.

In life it’s not unusual for children to dream of following in the footsteps of their parents, or for siblings to be in the same profession. Parents also like it when they can mentor their children into the same profession or family business. In the Philippines in particular, there are many people who think good parenthood means handing a fortune to their children on a silver platter, with the kids never having to worry about working too hard for a living.

For politicians, their surname is their legacy to their children. This is one of the biggest hindrances to the creation of a meritocracy and a culture dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in our country.

If the nation’s best and brightest see the less qualified rewarded with high office, promotions, bigger salaries and official recognition merely because of the right surname or due to endorsement by the Iglesia ni Cristo or some crooked politician, the incentive to excel is lost. The result is always ugly when the cream cannot rise to the top. It is one of the biggest reasons for incompetence and corruption in the justice system, the police, and agencies such as the Bureau of Customs.

Filipinos who hope to be rewarded for their capabilities rather than connections often leave the country.

Obviously, the dynasts see no reason to change the status quo. And many of them are sitting in Congress.

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If P-Noy is seriously interested in his enabling law, he should present a realistic proposal – one that will still allow relatives to enter politics, but will (to borrow a phrase from the previous administration) moderate greed for power.

Consecutive succession by relatives to the same position can be banned. Limits can be set on the number of relatives by blood or marriage up to the third degree who can seek elective office or be appointed to government within a particular province, city, municipality or congressional district.

Those related by blood or marriage at least up to the second degree must not be allowed to serve simultaneously in the 24-member Senate. The number of family members who can serve simultaneously in the Senate and House of Representatives must also be rationalized.

Limits must also be imposed on the number of related individuals who can occupy elective and appointive positions in local government units, including councils and barangays. Mayors and vice mayors, governors and vice governors must not be related at least up to the second degree.

Like proposals to regulate campaign finance, such moves will be likened by dynasts to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. But in the past years, dynasty building has reached disgusting proportions. And it will get worse unless reasonable limits are imposed by law.

We’re waiting for Congress to surprise us.