The OCTA Research survey for the second quarter of 2024, conducted from June 26 to July 1, found that most adult Filipinos oppose legalizing divorce, with opposition levels showing a slight increase from the previous year. 

OCTA's "Tugon ng Masa" survey results released on Friday, Aug. 16, revealed that 57 percent of adult Filipinos oppose legalizing divorce, up from 51 percent in the third quarter of 2023.

Meanwhile, 39 percent of respondents support legalizing divorce, a slight decrease of 2 percent from the previous survey.

In comparison, 4 percent remain undecided, down 5 percent from the earlier survey.

Across major areas, OCTA said support for legalizing divorce among adult Filipinos ranges from 35 percent to 50 percent. 

The highest support is found in the Visayas, at 50 percent, followed by the National Capital Region (NCR), at 46 percent, and Mindanao and Balance Luzon, at 35 percent each.

Meanwhile, opposition to legalizing divorce is highest in Balance Luzon at 61 percent, followed by Mindanao at 57 percent, NCR at 50 percent, and the Visayas at 49 percent. 

The highest percentage of undecided respondents is in Mindanao, at 7 percent.

Regarding opinions across socioeconomic classes, OCTA support for legalizing divorce ranges from 36 percent to 53 percent, with the highest support coming from Filipinos in Class ABC at 53 percent. 

Opposition is most pronounced in Classes D and E, each at 58 percent.

Meanwhile, the highest percentage of undecided respondents is found in Class E, at 6 percent.

Support for divorce

OCTA found that among the 39 percent of adult Filipinos who support legalizing divorce, an overwhelming 94 percent believe that married couples who have separated and cannot reconcile should be allowed to divorce and remarry, while only 3 percent disagree.

Across major areas, support for allowing separated married couples to divorce so they can legally remarry ranges from 88 percent to 96 percent, with the lowest level of agreement in Mindanao.

Regarding socioeconomic class, all classes have the same level of support at 94 percent for permitting divorce for separated couples.

Likewise, OCTA noted that 95 percent of those in favor of legalizing divorce agree that it should be available for spouses who have been abused or subjected to violence, with only 2 percent disagreeing.

Support for this view is consistently high across major areas, with at least 90 percent of adult Filipinos agreeing, ranging from 94 percent to 99 percent across socioeconomic classes.

Voter preferences

OCTA also bared that 55 percent of adult Filipinos will not vote for a candidate advocating for the legalization of divorce.

Meanwhile, 39 percent would support such a candidate, and 5 percent are undecided.

Moreover, 57 percent in Balance Luzon and 58 percent in Mindanao oppose voting for a candidate who promotes divorce.

In the Visayas, respondents are split evenly at 50 percent.

Meanwhile, 44 percent of NCR respondents would vote for a candidate supporting divorce legalization.

Among socioeconomic classes, 53 percent of adult Filipinos in Class ABC (53 percent) would vote for a candidate who promotes divorce. 

In contrast, Classes D and E have 56 percent each opposed to voting for such a candidate.