House begins deliberating marriage dissolution bill

The House of Representatives has begun deliberating measures seeking to allow married spouses to get a divorce or seek the dissolution of their marriage.

The Philippines is the last state in the world, apart from the Vatican, that does not allow divorce.

During the hearing of the House populations and family relations committee, Social Welfare Undersecretary Luzviminda Ilagan said proposals for divorce or dissolution of marriage would “actually help, especially for women who are suffering from various forms of violence from their spouses.”

The National Catholic Lay Organization, however, claimed that allowing divorce or the dissolution of marriages would violate the constitutional protection of marriage as an “inviolable social institution.” —Vince F. Nonato