Muling nanawagan si Senador Risa Hontiveros nitong Martes na ipasa na ang Senate Bill 147 o ang Dissolution of Marriage Act. 

Sinabi ni Hontiveros na dapat daw bigyan ng pagkakataong makalaya ang mga kababaihang inaabuso ng kanilang asawa. Bigyan din aniya ng oportunidad ang mga ito na mahalin at magmahal muli.

“Some Filipino women have almost been killed by their own husbands. But most of them cannot leave their marriages because of the prohibitive costs of filing for an annulment. Bigyan na natin ang ating mga kababaihan ng pagkakataong makalaya sa masalimuot at abusadong pagsasama. Bigyan natin sila ng oportunidad na mahalin at magmahal muli. Ipasa na ang Divorce Bill,” anang senadora

Sa datos ng Philippine Statistics Authority noong 2017 sa kanilang National Demographic and Health Survey, isa sa apat na babae na may edad na 15 hanggang 49 taong gulang ay nakararanas ng karahasan sa asawa, pisikal man, sekswal, o emosyunal. Ayon din sa survey, karamihan sa mga sumasang-ayon sa Divorce Bill ay mga babae.

“When a marriage becomes irreparable, it is incumbent upon the State to not only provide relief to spouses, but also protect children from the pain, anxiety, and trauma of witnessing regular marital clashes. Let us give Filipino families the chance to let go of toxic relationships,” ani Hontiveros.

Idinagdag pa ni Hontiveros na kailangang bilisan ng Senado dahil inaprubahan na ng House of Representative ang mga panukalang batas na nagtatakda para sa dissolution ng kasal.

“Our counterparts in the House have already been making the moves to help our country catch up with the rest of the world. The Senate must do the same. Past surveys have demonstrated that the majority of Filipinos favor divorce to be instituted in the country. We better listen to our people.

“We are the only country, aside from the Vatican, that doesn’t have divorce. As a secular state, this is not something to be proud of. This only shows how left behind we are in addressing the needs and recognizing the lived experiences of our people. 2023 na, wala pa ring divorce. It’s time to change this."

Si Hontiveros namumuno sa Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.