The naming of roads, school buildings and other projects, programs and services after elective officials would soon be a thing of the past, if five militant party-list representatives have their way.
House Bill 2026, which was filed yesterday by Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna, Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan of Gabriela, and Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis, seeks to have the practice outlawed.
In their explanatory note, the five said though the Constitution seeks a ban on political dynasties, “experience shows that such a bill is virtually impossible to pass in a Congress dominated by political clans and dynasties.”
“Thus, a compromise measure is being offered to simply ban the naming of public properties, public services and government programs after incumbent public officials and their relatives. This would, at least, put a stop to one of the most despised practices of political dynasties,” they said.
They said it is “immoral and unethical” for public officials to claim credit for themselves or their relatives for projects, programs and services funded by taxpayers’ money.
“Such an act indicates that the public official is soliciting fame and glory in order to perpetuate oneself or one’s family in power at the expense of government resources,” they added.
They pointed out that if Congress cannot carry out the constitutional mandate against political dynasties, it should at least lessen the ability of these families to entrench themselves in power.