CONGRESSWOMAN Kristine Alexie B. Tutor had her hands full in consulting the people especially in her third district and wanted the people to share their thoughts or comments over the hotly debated proposed divorce law.
“Deri sa Kongreso, nagpadayon ang deliberation bahin sa Divorce. Ug karon, maminaw ko sa inyong sentiment,” she said. (Here in congress the divorce debate is on-going. Now I want to hear your voice over this matter).
She said that we are one of the few countries that remains not having a divorce in this part of the globe.
“Kita sa Bohol, we have very strong religious faith. We believe in the Church & the sanctity of marriage. The family being the foundation in the society,” she emphasized.
She said that this (divorce) may provide a sigh of relief from the hell of marriage life. But “are we willing and ready to see a society filled with so many blended/ dysfunctional families?” She asked. “Yes we are ready to reap the gains of dvorce but are we also ready to see & feel the intergenerational impact it brings.”
Reality bites. She hastened to say, “Married couples nga magbuwag na dayon inig ka hupas sa ilang nag uros-uros nga gibati ug kauwag. Mga inahan nga inig human ug panganak nga n-burot, ni tambok ug na losyang, pulihan dayon ug batan-on.”
She asked the people to “help me to vote wisely on this measure when the time comes.”
It was not immediately known if there were public hearing/consultations being conducted nationwide as part of the information and education drive.
The closest legal actions available for couples are legal separation and annulment, according to Respicio and company.
It added the following to consider the divorce bill: Public opinion on divorce is evolving, with surveys indicating a growing acceptance among Filipinos, which could influence lawmakers.
The Catholic Church in the Philippines has historically been a strong opponent of divorce, which is a significant factor given the Church’s influence in the country.
As the bill is debated, some lawmakers are pushing for amendments to existing laws on annulment and legal separation as more achievable short-term goals.
As of now, the progress of the divorce bill remains a topic of much debate and uncertainty. Various factors, both societal and political, contribute to its slow legislative journey, Respicio and company said. (ricobedencio@yahoo.com)
