6 of 10 want divorce legalized

MANILA, Philippines - Six in 10 Filipinos are in favor of legalizing divorce in the country, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed.

The SWS poll, taken from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, found that 60 percent of adult Filipinos agreed and only 29 disagreed that “married couples who have already separated and cannot reconcile anymore should be allowed to divorce so that they can get legally married again,” for a net agreement of 31.

The remaining 11 percent of respondents were undecided on the matter, the pollster said.

The 31 net agreement in December 2014 is classified as “strong” – an upgrade from the “moderate” 18 in March 2011, and a double upgrade from the “neutral” -2 net agreement in May 2005.

The 13-point rise in the overall net agreement from March 2011 to December 2014 was due to an increase of 29 points in Metro Manila, 18 points in Mindanao, eight points in balance Luzon, and seven points in the Visayas, the SWS said.

The survey found 67 percent of adults in Metro Manila agreed with the proposition, up from 52 percent in March 2011 and 44 percent in May 2005. The latest net agreement of strong 46 is above the moderate 17 in March 2011, and the neutral -1 in May 2005.

In balance Luzon, 62 percent agreed, up from 54 percent in March 2011 and 51 percent in May 2005. The net agreement of moderate 32 is above the 24 in March 2011, and the 11 in May 2005.

In the Visayas, 55 percent are in favor of divorce, up from 50 percent in March 2011 and 32 percent in May 2005. The net agreement of moderate 20 is above the moderate 13 in March 2011, and the poor -24 in May 2005.

In Mindanao, 55 percent agreed with the proposal, up from 44 percent in March 2011 and 36 percent in May 2005. The latest net agreement of moderate 27 is up from the neutral 9 in March 2011 and -7 in May 2005.

Advocates from the masses

The December 2014 survey found 57 percent of those in class ABC agreed to the proposition, similar to 57 percent in March 2011 and 59 percent in May 2005. The net agreement of moderate 21 compares to 16 in March 2011, and 25 in May 2005.

In class D, 60 percent support divorce, up from 52 percent in March 2011 and 42 percent in May 2005. The latest net agreement of good 32 is above the moderate 20 in March 2011, and the neutral -2 in May 2005.

In class E, 58 percent agreed, up from 45 percent in March 2011 and 37 percent in May 2005. The net agreement of moderate 28 is up from the moderate 11 in March 2011, and the poor -13 in May 2005.

Since 2005, SWS said the net agreement with legalizing divorce for separated couples has always been moderate in class ABC, while it switched from neutral to strong in class D, and from poor to moderate in class E.

More male, female backers

Support for legalization of divorce rose among men and women – with stronger support coming from the former – regardless of whether married, living-in with a partner or single, according to the SWS.

The survey showed that 62 percent of men agreed with the proposal to legalize divorce, up from 52 percent in March 2011 and 44 percent in May 2005. The net agreement of strong 36 is above the moderate 21 in March 2011, and the neutral 1 in May 2005.

Among women, 57 percent agreed, up from 49 percent in March 2011 and 41 percent in May 2005. The latest net agreement of moderate 25 is above the moderate 14 in March 2011, and the neutral -5 in May 2005.

Among men with live-in partners, 65 percent agreed, up from 63 percent in March 2011 and 54 percent in May 2005. The net agreement of strong 38 is similar to the 36 in March 2011, and above the moderate 23 in May 2005.

Among women with live-in partners, 66 percent agreed, up from 62 percent in March 2011 and below the 71 percent in May 2005. The net agreements of 39 in December 2014, 35 in March 2011, and 48 in May are all strong.

Among married men, 61 percent agreed, up from 50 percent in March 2011 and 43 percent in May 2005. The net agreement of strong 33 is above the moderate 18 in March 2011, and the neutral -3 in May 2005.

Among married women, 55 percent agreed, up from 47 percent in March 2011 and 39 percent in May 2005. The net agreement of moderate 22 is up from the moderate 10 in March 2011, and the poor -10 in May 2005.

Among single men, 64 percent agreed, up from 53 percent in March 2011 and 45 percent in May 2005. The latest net agreement of strong 42 is above the moderate 23 in March 2011 and 11 in May 2005.

Among single women, 56 percent agreed, up from 51 percent in March 2011 and 44 percent in May 2005. The net agreement of moderate 22 is similar to the 20 in March 2011, and above the neutral 4 in May 2005.

Since May 2005, support for divorce has always been “strong” among those with live-in partners, according to SWS.

Among those with live-in partners, 66 percent of respondents said they are in favor of the proposed divorce bill, up from 62 percent in March 2011 and 63 percent in May 2005.– With Paolo Romero