HOUSE OKAYS DIVORCE BILL ON FINAL READING

PRIOR to the sine die adjournment, the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday approved House Bill 9349  or the proposed “Absolute Divorce Act” on third and final reading.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, author of the bill, said its third reading passage signifies a significant shift in societal attitudes towards marriage and relationships.

According to Lagman, by legalizing divorce, the Philippines acknowledges the need to provide options for individuals trapped in “unhappy and irreparable marriages.”

“As the only country in the world besides the Vatican where divorce is still illegal, this is a clear and resounding victory and signals the imminent liberation for Filipino wives who are entombed in toxic, abusive, and long-dead marriages,” Lagman said.

The bill seeks to provide absolute divorce as a legal remedy for irreparably broken marriages under specific grounds and judicial processes, with the goal of sparing children from the emotional strain of parental dispute and allowing divorced individuals to remarry.

HB 9349 lays down the comprehensive guidelines for absolute divorce petitions, encompassing grounds, procedures, and the effects on custody, property division, and support.

It also includes provisions for reconciliation methods, fines, and community-based initiatives, which will be supervised by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).