After sin tax, House eyes passage of divorce, RH bills

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — After the sin tax reform bill, will the divorce bill be next in line for passage at the House of Representatives?

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. told reporters after closing the second regular session that the divorce bill, along with the contentious Freedom of Information (FOI) and Reproductive Health bills, will be prioritized when they come back in July for the third regular session.

He admitted that he personally was in favor of what he deemed to be “a very important bill.”

“I think we have to put those on the agenda. I’m very hopeful that it will be a productive third session, not one that is simply on hold pending elections.” Belmonte said.

Two divorce measures in the House committee on revision of laws – House Bill 1799 filed by Gabriela Representative Luzviminda Ilagan back in July 2010 and another HB 4368 filed by Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez on March – are awaiting deliberations by lawmakers.

But the question was whether lawmakers could approve the bill before the midterm elections. Belmonte said that they would try their best to push for voting on the divorce, RH and FOI bills by then.