CASE 2: Political Dynasty in the Philippines

 

        Political dynasties generally refer to traditional political families or the practices by these political families of monopolizing political power and public offices from generation to generation and treating the public elective office almost as their personal property. therefore, examines the general nature of the current Philippine political dynasties the reasons for its continuing existence and its adverse impact in the country.

            In the Philippine elections highlighted the dominance of political dynasties in the country. With all 80 provinces littered with political families, 74 percent of the elected members of the House of Representatives came from such dynastic groups. Despite overwhelming recognition that political dynasties breed patronage politics and corruption, no substantial steps have been undertaken to address this issue. This  examines the general nature of Philippine political dynasties, the reasons for their continuing existence and their adverse impact on the country. This problem emanates basically from three factors first is the political and socio-economic foundations upon which political dynasties are built, Second is the inability to effectively implement Philippine constitutional provisions by enacting an enabling land and lastly the weakness of potential countervailing forces that would challenge political dynasties.

            Political families also lessen the chance for new blood to enter politics, thus closing opportunities, and stopping new ideas from entering the scene. As stated, corruption, and other malicious deeds are easily being covered up due to abuse of power. With the negative effects outbalancing the positive effects, it is only ideal for political Dynasties to stop.

            Political dynasties hard to topple, despite the negative reactions of the popular towards political dynasties and the association between dynasties activities and corruption. There has been a lot of debate regarding the effect of political dynasties have on the political and economic status of Philippines.

       Political family has larger income when compared to non-political family. They have more means of buying people’s vote thus their retainment to office. These families also make use of the population, especially the uneducated and the lower-class citizens to maintain positions.

           Dynasties also as a cultural phenomenon. Historically not only that political dynasty in the country was evident in the allegiance during pre-colonial period of a community to a datu a title for a chief belonging to a royal family where political power was inherited but it is also symptomatic of Filipino cultural values particularly authoritarianism and particularism, which are exceptionally strong in a collective society. Like any other cultural values, these are good or bad depending upon how they are expressed and the people involved or affected.

        Political dynasty is a well known method of politicians in the Philippines wherein the members of the family been made also a member of the government in order for them to not lose power but to gain more power. This act abides an unfair and unjust because the government is not a business that a family can run by themselves, but the government is for all and other people should be given chances wherein they can be the one that leads a community. The government or politics is not a business that can be run by generation and generation of a family the government comprises a critical part of a community having different leaders in every generation and not only one leader that has his or her family in the position of the government