Lagman says divorce bill may be approved on committee level next week

Albay Representative Edcel Lagman on Tuesday said the bill seeking to introduce divorce in the country may be approved in the committee level by next week.

Lagman made the pronouncement in a press conference at the House of Representatives.

"The divorce bill is already in the verge of being approved in the committee level by next week," he told reporters.

"The technical working group has already met this morning consolidating the four bills pertinent to the grant of absolute divorce," he added.

Lagman said they are working on expanding the grounds for divorce.

These, he said, include legal separation, annulment of marriage, psychological incapacity and irreconcilable differences.

"We are also crafting the substitute bill to reduce expense on the part of the petitioner," he added, which, in most cases, is the aggrieved wife.

Lagman said they are also pushing to make divorce proceedings affordable.

"We are also having the provision that the court can appoint social workers, psychiatrists, as well as psychologists when necessary because there are professional fees and the attorney's fees. This really increased the cost of fees today," he added.

The House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, meanwhile, is also currently deliberating another measure concerning partnerships, the civil partnership bill. — MDM, GMA News