NAGHAIN ng panukala ang isang partylist congressman upang magkaroon na ng virtual wedding sa bansa.
Sa ilalim ng House Bill 7042 na akda ni Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo ang lalaki at babaeng ikakasal ay nasa iisang lugar pero ang solemnizing officer o magkakasal ay nasa ibang lugar. Magkikita ang dalawang panig sa pamamagitan ng mga electronic gadgets.
“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,” paliwanag ni Salo. “It is respectfully proposed that the term presence and personal appearance provided in the Family Code be broadly construed to include virtual presence.”
Ayon kay Salo noon pang 1998 ipinatupad ang Family Code at makalipas ang dalawang dekada ay marami ng naging pagbabago sa magagamit na teknolohiya.
“Its provisions have already been overtaken by advancements in technology,” saad ni Salo. “The legal meaning of presence or personal appearance must now be liberally construed to include virtual presence or presence through videoconferencing.”
Dahil sa pandemya ay maraming naka-schedule na kasal ang ipinagpaliban o tuluyan ng kinansela bunsod ng pagbabawal sa mass gathering at physical distancing.
Hindi umano maitatanggi na may mga magpapakasal na nagsama na kahit hindi pa kasal.
Hindi lamang sa bansa limitado ang virtual wedding batay sa panukala.
“Virtual marriages between Filipino citizens abroad may be solemnized by the Consul-General, Consul or Vice-Consul of the Philippines. It may also be officiated by priests or religious leaders of the church they belong even when the religious leaders are based in the Philippines.”