Filipinos are split on Pope Francis’ statement that annulment processes has to be relaxed, even as more people say they disagree with passing a divorce law in the country, according to the latest The Standard Poll conducted between Sept. 21 and Oct. 1 by The Standard’s resident pollster, Junie Laylo.
Of the 1,500 respondents in 76 provinces interviewed, 50 percent agreed and 50 percent disagreed with the Vatican rule issued in September in response to complaints that the church annulment process is too lengthy and complicated.
Agreement was strongest at the National Capital Region, with 59 percent agreeing and 41 percent disagreeing.
Mindanao, however, posed the strongest disagreement, with 37 percent of respondents somewhat disagreeing and 26 percent strongly disagreeing.
Sixty-eight percent of all respondents say they disagree with passing a divorce law, with Southern Luzon/ Bicol and the Visayas registering the strongest opposition at 70 percent.
More urban dwellers are amenable to passing such a law, with 38 percent agreeing versus the 29 percent of respondents from rural areas.
Respondents also agree with the strong promotion of birth control even as no distinction was made between natural and artificial family planning methods.
Support was highest in Southern Luzon with 92 percent agreeing, and in Northern Luzon and the Visayas with 84 percent agreeing. Seventy-nine percent of Metro Manila residents also support family planning.
In Mindanao, however, 52 percent of respondents disagree with supporting birth control.
Opinion on passing a law allowing same-sex marriage in the country, however, is universal to respondents across the country with 85 percent either somewhat or strongly disagreeing.
Southern Luzon and Mindanao disagreed most strongly, with 90 percent and 92 percent, respectively. Metro Manila was relatively more tolerant with 20 percent agreeing. Among age groups, 89 percent of the elderly (respondents aged 56 and above) disagreed with the proposal.
Questions on sexual behavior were asked using the sealed-envelope technique, where a respondent is handed a sealed envelope containing the questions. This technique enables respondents to answer what may be deemed intimidating questions and assures them that their answers would remain confidential.
Conservative, still
Some questions in the September survey were also asked in the earlier survey conducted in May, allowing for comparisons between answers for the two time periods. Answers revealed that Filipinos in general held on to their traditional values even as the younger generation is more open to new experiences.
In the September survey, 93 percent of Filipinos had between one and five sexual partners in their lifetime, while 4 percent had six to 10 partners.
And despite the greater support to government’s family planning programs, 43 percent for respondents still believed births should not be controlled. With 28 percent supporting natural family planning and 29 percent artificial family planning.
Laylo, The Standard’s in-house pollster, has 25 years of experience in political polling and strategic research.
