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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.
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