Isinusulong ngayon sa Kamara ang panukalang batas para sa pagsasagawa ng “virtual” wedding ceremonies, lalo pa ngayon at may COVID-19 pandemic.
Sa kanyang inihaing House Bill 7042, tinukoy ni Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo kung paano napilitan ang mga magpapakasal na i-postpone o kanselahin ang kanilang kasal dahil sa ipinagbabawal pa rin sa ngayon ang mass gatherings.
“The essence of the marriage ceremony is the personal appearance of the parties before the solemnizing officer and their declaration that they freely and willingly take each other as husband and wife,” ani Salo.
“It is respectfully proposed that the term presence and personal appearance provided in the Family Code be broadly construed to include virtual presence,” dagdag pa nito.
Layon ng inihain niyang panukala na amoyendahan ang Articles 2, 3, 6 at 10 ng Family Code of the Philippines.
Nakasaad sa panukala na kailangan magkasama sa iisang lokasyon ang magpapakasal pero maaring remote o virtual ang presensya naman ng kakasal sa kanila.
“When the marriage was performed virtually, the certificate of marriage must be notarized prior to its registration with the local civil registrar to ensure its authenticity and due execution, and to properly ascertain the identity of the contracting parties,” bahagi ng panukala.
Ang mga magpapakasal naman sa abroad, sinabi ni Salo,ang Consul-General , Consul o Vice-Consul ng Pilipinas ang maaring tatayong solemnizing officer.
Maari ring i-officiate ang kasal na ito ng mga pari o religious leader.
