Divorce law enactment to push PH gender rating up

THE enactment of the absolute divorce law will enable the Philippines to improve its ranking in the Global Gender Gap (GGG) Report of the World Economic Forum, according to its principal author, Albay First District Rep. Edcel Lagman.

In the 2024 GGG Report, the Philippines dropped nine rungs from 16th to 25th place. The country got its highest rating at sixth place in 2006 when the report first launched in 2006.

In a statement, Lagman expressed his belief that the enactment of absolute divorce law will bridge the gender gap and achieve gender parity as abused and tormented wives will be given the opportunity to regain their freedom, self respect, agency, and happiness.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, principal author of House Bill (HB) 9349, titled 'An Act Reinstituting Absolute Divorce as an Alternative Mode for the Dissolution of Marriage', shares his thoughts on the bill in interviews with PrimeTimes with Atty. Lia at The Manila Times office and during the 'Kapihan sa Manila Prince Hotel' hosted by former senator Joey Lina in Manila on Thursday, June 13, 2024. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

Lagman also said that women will then enjoy the right to alimony, primary custody of children and child support from the offending party, as well as the right to remarry, which he mentioned in an interview in the upcoming episode of The Manila Times' online show PrimeTimes.

«However, getting married again is the least of the aggrieved wives' prayers as they principally want to be liberated from a long entombed marriage,» Lagman said.

In the interview with host lawyer Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, Lagman said that their alimony proposal in the divorce bill will be for three years while the offended spouse has not secured a decent job or had remarried.

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Alimony, as defined in the bill, is «spousal support adjudged in the divorce decree by the family court» in favor of the offended spouse against the offending spouse.

«We are continuing the parental relationship between the divorced parents and their children,» Lagman said in the interview.

He emphasized that the Divorce Bill is part of public discourse and should not be construed as a religious issue.

«This is a recognition that some