An arguable bill to permit divorces in the Philippines has stimulated controversy between congress members in the country. The bill, House Bill No. 1799, also known as “An Act Introducing Divorce in the Philippines” was filed by Congress women Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana De Jesus on 27th July this year. The two congresswomen are associated with Gabriela Women’s Party, which hubs on boosting up women’s civil rights in the Philippines.

Presently Divorce is considered illegal in the Philippines. There is family Code (order no. 209) which was signed on 26th July 1987. It allows termination or lawful separation at certain level.

While filing the bill the two congress women wrote in HB 1799 explanatory note that there are plenty of unsuccessful, unhappy and failed marriages across the country, but as there is no legal process, the victim women are forced to live under privileged life full with agony and despoilment.

In the Filipino culture, marriage is viewed as a blessed union, and the family instituted with marriage is considered as a fountain of love, shelter and concern. Philippine society generally sulks upon and demoralizes marital break-ups and so offers cultural and authorized safeguards to conserve marital relations. Cultural recommendation and religious customs keep many couples together in spite of the collapse of their marriage.

The Philippines is mostly Roman Catholic, where marriage is extremely respected and divorce is not an alternative.  Congressman Ben Evardone has openly opposed the bill.  “We must persist to work for the protection of the purity of marriage and the family,” said Evardone.   ”Legalizing divorce might persuade or promote devastation of families.”

This bill is being introduce based on suggestion that Philippine society is prepared for the legalization of break up.  The holiness of wedding not stands on the figure of marriages existing but on the worth of wedded relationships

However, according to the Family Code, a permissible separation is approved if there is physical mistreatment in the relationship, mistreatment based on drug or alcohol, homosexuality or disloyalty between the two.