Talk of the Town: The 2025 plebiscite

Comments on “The 2025 plebiscite,” (The Long View by Manuel L. Quezon III, 9/25/24) via https://opinion.inquirer.net:

Voting in the Philippines often feels futile because the country operates under a neo-feudal system dominated by political and business families. These dynasties control resources, influence voters, and maintain power through celebrity and wealth. In such a system, elections are heavily influenced by incumbency and money, leaving little room for new leaders.

The Senate and House of Representatives are dominated by powerful political figures, handpicked by the ruling administration, ensuring that power remains within a small circle. Midterm elections, like the one in 2025, serve less as a chance for real change and more as a referendum on the current administration’s performance.

Even opposition slates are often composed of factions from the same political elite, leaving voters with no real alternatives.

This entrenched system prevents meaningful progress, as the same families and coalitions cycle through power, sidelining genuine reformers and perpetuating the status quo. Voting becomes a mere formality, not a tool for significant change.

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