Alvarez says two priority measures are dissolution of marriage for unhappy couples, legalize civil unions

July 24, 2017

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez  said his two priority measures are seeking to address family concerns such as dissolution of marriage for unhappy couples and legalize civil unions or giving rights to same-sex and even heterosexual people who enter relationship without marriage or live-in status. Alvarez said proposal for the dissolution of marriage will just take days after court hearings compared to the complicated and very expensive annulment process. “Let us not only aim for landmark legislations, grand in scope, but also seek to address concerns that involve the basic fundamental unit of our society – the family,” Alvarez said in his speech during the opening of the Second Regular Session of the 17th Congress. He thanked Deputy Speaker and Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, who is separated from her husband sportsman Ari Ben Sebastian, for accepting the challenge to file the bill on the dissolution of marriage. “Admittedly, there is a sad reality about some marriages. We do not always get it right the first time around. Unfortunately, the present system practically coerces married persons to remain with each other even if the relationship is beyond repair and has caused, and continues to cause, harm to the well-being of the husband, the wife and, worse, the children involved. We have to change this,” said Alvarez who is separated from his wife Emelita Apostol Alvarez. “One of the conditions, which must be complied with, is an agreed upon and executable framework to provide for the care and support of their children. Moreover, previously married persons can remain friends and better parents, despite their differences, since they no longer have to sling mud at each other in front of a judge just to convince the magistrate that their marriage should be declared void or voided,”Alvarez explained. Alvarez will sponsor a proposed law that would legalize civil unions or giving rights to same-sex and even heterosexual people who only want live-in status or without marriage. “We must also be considerate of the fact that marriage may not be for everyone. Presently, it even excludes certain groups of people from its fold. Let us tackle this issue head on. I will file a bill that will legally recognize and protect Civil Partnerships,” said Alvarez  who also thanked Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, the first transgender congresswoman, for giving inputs on his proposal. DMS