By Filane Mikee Cervantes
MANILA – The House of Representatives has advanced key legislation promoting women’s rights, including a divorce bill and amendments to the Family Code, in an effort to address gender inequality, a House leader said on Monday.
In observance of Women’s Month, House Committee on Women and Gender Equality chairperson and Bataan Rep. 1st District Geraldine Roman said the divorce bill’s passage in the House marked a significant step for women seeking legal remedies from failed and abusive marriages.
“Hindi ‘yan lingid sa ating kaalaman na maraming kababaihan na despite all best efforts eh talagang nag-fail ang marriage nila, tapos very toxic na (It is no secret that many women, despite their best efforts, have marriages that fail and become very toxic). Sometimes even their physical integrity is at risk. Sometimes their physical integrity na nanganganib na rin (is in danger). So, we’re proud to say that we passed the divorce bill here in the House of Representatives,” Roman said in a press conference.
The measure, however, faces obstacles in the Senate, Roman admitted.
The lawmaker also called for changes to the Family Code, noting 11 “outdated” provisions that prioritize the husband in family decisions.
“Lagi ‘yung asawang lalaki ang mayroong final say. Property issues, you want to sell a house, payag na ‘yung buong pamilya dahil kailangan ito ng pamilya, ‘yung pera. Pero pag sinabi ng husband, ay, ayoko, siya pa rin naman susunod (The husband always has the final say. Property issues, for example, if the whole family agrees to sell a house because they need the money, but if the husband says no, then his decision prevails),” Roman said.
She pointed out that proposed amendments have already been sponsored before the plenary, leaving them with six working days left to pass it on third reading.
Roman explained that if this process is completed before the 20th Congress convenes, the bill would breeze through the committee level.
She also pushed for revisions to the Safe Spaces Act to hold public officials accountable for inappropriate conduct.
“Hindi naman po pwede, we require the citizenry to behave in a certain manner pero tayong public officials exempted (It’s not right that we require citizens to behave in a certain manner while public officials are exempted),” Roman said.
Roman, meanwhile, highlighted a proposal to require political parties to allocate at least 40 percent of their candidate list to women, arguing that gender quotas are necessary for equal political representation.
“We have to face the fact na hindi level, hindi patas ang playing ground (We have to face the fact that the playing field is not level),” she said.
She also called for gender-responsive disaster policies, pointing out that pandemic aid often prioritized male heads of households, leaving many women without access to resources.
“Disasters affect men and women differently. So we have to have gender-responsive legislation,” Roman said. (PNA)
