THE House of Representatives, through viva voce voting, approved on second reading on Wednesday House Bill 9349 which would institute absolute divorce as an alternative mode of dissolving an irreparably broken or dysfunctional marriage.
The bill, principally authored by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, provides the limited grounds and well-defined judicial procedures for divorce and aims to save children from the pain, stress and agony brought about by their parents’ marital clashes or irreconcilable differences, as well as grant the divorced spouses the right to marry again for another chance at marital bliss.
Under the bill, troubled couples may file a petition for absolute divorce using the following grounds: 1) legal separation under Article 55 of the Family Code of the Philippines, as modified; 2) annulment of marriage under Article 45 of the Family Code of the Philippines, as modified; 3) separation of the spouses in fact for at least five years at the time the petition for absolute divorce is filed, and reconciliation is highly improbable; 4) psychological incapacity as provided in Article 36 of the Family Code of the Philippines; 5) irreconcilable differences; and 6) domestic or marital abuse to include acts under Republic Act 9262, or the Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.
The House also approved various measures focused on the welfare of senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to ensure their well-being, dignity and inclusion in the society.
HB 10188, or the proposed “Senior Citizens Protection Against Fraud Act,” authored by Muntinlupa City Rep. Jaime Fresnedi, seeks to establish mechanisms to educate and keep the senior citizen informed about various forms of fraud.
It directs the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through the local government units, to educate senior citizens including their families and caregivers, on general information on mail, telemarketing and internet frauds as well as information on where to report and how to prevent such cases.
The House also passed on second reading HB 10312, which mandates that the 20% discount privilege of senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) shall remain applicable even when products are sold at promotional prices. The bill is primarily authored by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes and Agusan del Sur Rep. Alfelito Bascug.
Others approved on second reading that are related to the welfare of the senior citizens and PWDs were HBs 10313, adapting the eGov Super App; and HB 10314, rationalizing the benefits and privileges of senior citizens and PWDs.
