President Marcos believes that helping couples stay together should remain a national priority, even as discussions on the Divorce Bill resume in Congress, Malacañang said Thursday, July 3.

While Marcos has yet to take an official stance on the refiled measure, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President favors promoting healthy and resilient marriages over making separation more accessible.

“Mas maganda po sana, at yun din po ang nais ng Pangulo, na mas paigtingin natin ang magandang pagsasama ng mag-asawa (It would be better, and this is also the President’s desire, that we strengthen the relationships of married couples),” she said.

“Mas palawigin natin na mas maresolba ng bawat mag-asawa ang kanilang problema para maayos ang kanilang pamilya. Hindi lang para sa kanilang dalawa, kundi para sa kanilang mga anak (We should expand efforts to help couples resolve their problems for the sake of their families and their children),” she added.

Castro clarified that the President has not taken a definitive position on the new Divorce Bill, which was recently refiled in the 20th Congress after narrowly passing the House of Representatives in the previous term.

“Sa ngayon po, wala pa pong klarong stance ang Pangulo patungkol sa Divorce Bill (As of now, the President has no clear stance on the Divorce Bill),” she said.

She added that the Palace would first need to study the full text of the measure before commenting on its merits, particularly whether it aligns with existing grounds for legal separation and the values supported by Filipino institutions.

Castro noted that while the Catholic Church continues to oppose divorce, it does allow annulments, which indicates that even within religious communities, there is recognition that not all marriages can be saved.

“Ang simbahan, kahit po ang Simbahang Katoliko, ay naniniwala na may mga pagkakataon na ang dalawang mag-asawa, kung hindi na po talaga kakayaning magsama, ay dapat na pong paghiwalayin (Even the Catholic Church acknowledges that there are cases when couples should no longer be forced to stay together),” she said.

Asked if the President may support the measure in the current Congress, Castro said it remains a possibility, depending on how the final bill is crafted.

“Kapag po maganda yung provisions at makikita rin po natin na ang bawat simbahan ay umaayon na ito ay dapat at nararapat, maaari po itong bigyan ng magandang tugon ng Pangulo (If the provisions are sound and even the churches are aligned with it, the President may give a favorable response),” she added.