The House of Representatives committee on population and family relations on Wednesday approved a measure that would allow divorce in the Philippines.

 The bill, entitled "An act instituting absolute divorce in the Philippines," was approved with no contention.

 The proposed “Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage Act” provides an extensive list of grounds for absolute divorce, including marital infidelity which is committed by having a child with another person other than one’s spouse during the marriage, except when a child is born through in vitro fertilization or similar procedure, or when the wife bears a child after being a victim of rape.


 However to show that the State places importance on the sanctity of marriage, the bill mandates a six-month “cooling off” period “as a final attempt of reconciling the concerned spouses.”

 This six-month period begins after a petition is filed, but is lifted in cases that involve acts of violence against women and their children, or an attempt against the life of the other spouse or a common child.

 Custody of children, meanwhile, will be determined by a court “in accordance with the best interests” of the children. Minors under seven years old may not be separated from their mother unless there are “compelling reasons” for it.

 The divorce bill makes the dissolution of marriage affordable as it mandates the state to assist indigent petitioners by waiving the filing and lawyers’ fees. Courts will be mandated to provide a psychiatrist and psychologist in divorce proceedings.

Source: https://goo.gl/Bykejt