Congress Holds Public Hearing in HK on Proposed Divorce Law
05 October 2017 HONG KONG– The Committee on Population and Family Relations of the House of Representatives conducted its first-ever overseas Public Hearing/Consultation on proposed measures on divorce, at the Public Area of the Philippines Consulate General in Hong Kong SAR.
The hearing was led by Deputy Speaker Pia Cayetano, Deputy Speaker Raneo E. Abu, and Committee Chairperson, Congresswoman Marisol Aragones-Sampelo. Also present were House Committee members Congresswoman Ma. Lourdes R. Aggabao from Isabela, Gabriela Partylist Congresswoman Emerenciana A. De Jesus, ACTS-OFW Partylist Congressman Aniceto D. Bertiz III, and Congressman Teodoro B. Baguilat, Jr. from Ifugao.
The Filipino Community was invited to provide comments and opinions on the following proposed bills:
- House Bill No. 116 - “An Act Instituting Absolute Divorce in the Philippines and for Other Purposes”
- House Bill No. 1062 - “An Act Amending Title I, Chapter 3 of E.O. No. 209 otherwise known as The Family Code of the Philippines, Prescribing Additional Ground for Annulment”
- House Bill No. 1629 - “An Act Legalizing Church Annulment of Dissolution of Certain Marriages and for Other Purposes”
- House Bill No. 2380 - “An Act Introducing Divorce in the Philippines, Amending for the purpose Articles 26, 55 to 66 and Repealing Article 36 Under Title II of E.O. No. 209, as amended, otherwise known as The Family Code of the Philippines, and for Other Purposes”
- House Bill No. 3705 - “An Act recognizing the Civil Effects of Church Declaration of Nullity, Annulment and Dissolution of Marriages and for Other Purposes”
- House Bill No. 6027 - “An Act Providing for Grounds for the Dissolution of a Marriage”
- House Bill No. 6446 – “An Act Recognizing the Capacity of the Filipino Spouse to Remarry when the Alien Spouse has obtained a Foreign Judicial Decree of Absolute Divorce, amending for the purpose of Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines”.
During her welcome address, Consul General Bernardita L. Catalla stressed on the importance of the committee hearing to OFWs in the territory, given that many of them seek the Consulate’s assistance on matters related to marital problems, child custody, and property disputes stemming from marital strife.
Some Filipino organizations presented written positions and comments. These were: United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK), the Philippine Association of Hong Kong (PAHK), Chaplaincy for Filipinos in Hong Kong, Mission for Migrant Workers, Global Alliance Hong Kong, Philippine Alliance Hong Kong, Gabriela Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Musicians Union.
The discussions provided an avenue for varying positions, experiences and sentiments to be heard which were sincerely appreciated by the House Committee.
More than 250 Filipino Community members attended the public hearing/consultation.
The House Committee plans to conduct public hearings/consultations with Filipino Communities in Tokyo and Dubai. END