Make divorce law simple, accessible to every Filipino

What a relief that at long last, the Senate panel has approved the divorce bill. We need more practical laws dealing with the everyday life of regular Filipinos. What should an ordinary Filipino couple stuck in a loveless marriage mostly prompted by infidelity do?

For well-off Filipinos, they will go for a civil and/or religious annulment. This process though is quite expensive since in most cases, in addition to lawyers and court fees, it involves certification from a psychiatrist. Some will get their divorce abroad (until now, not valid in the Philippines.) These are expensive for the regular Filipino worker.

What is important in this law is to make it simple and workable so that any regular Filipino can avail of it without paying so much fees.

When you talk to a Filipino and ask them why we don’t have any divorce laws, most will answer that we are a predominantly Catholic country. But, there are only two countries in the world that have no divorce laws, the Philippines and the Vatican, the seat of the Holy See.

Living in a loveless marriage is traumatic to the couple itself and to the children, with its bickering and fights. As long as there are provisions for spousal and child support, it is a plus since especially the children are taken care of. Divorce will give a chance for those miserable in their current marriage to seek happiness with another party officially.

I am just surprised that it took so many years to approve this and hope that it will be a law soon.

IDA M. TIONGCO
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