Members of the LGBT community participate in a ceremonial exchange of vows at the Love and Light Events Place in Quezon City on February 14, 2020. Same-sex marriage in the Philippines is still not recognized by the state. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — A member of the House of Representatives has renewed her push for a same-sex civil partnership law in the Philippines, saying couples under civil partnerships will also benefit from tax perks being enjoyed by married couples.

Married couples in the Philippines can apply for tax exemptions for their spouses and qualified dependents.

BH Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera, the author of the proposed Civil Partnership Act (HB 1015), said in a statement that she sees the civil partnership as an "alternative" to marriage in a Catholic-majority nation so same-sex partners could be granted the same constitutional rights given to straight couples.

"This is not a marriage contract wherein there is a third party—either a judge or a religious official. In this civil partnership contract, the only parties are the two persons binding themselves to their contract, so there are no religious issues involved because this is a matter of civil law. This bill is consistent with the Civil Code partnership provisions," Herrera said.

"Civil partnership po ang isinusulong namin sa Kongreso, hindi same-sex marriage, HINDI UNION. Matagal nang kinikilala ng Civil Code of the Philippines na kahit sinong tao sa Pilipinas ay maaaring pumasok sa isang partnership agreement," she added.

(What we are pushing is civil partnership, not same-sex marriage and not a union. The Civil Code of the Philippines has long recognized that anyone in the Philippines can enter into a partnership agreement with another.)

Herrera said passing a same-sex civil partnership law is a human rights issue and that it does "not seek to dilute nor diminish marriages solemnized in Catholic and other religious rites."

Under her proposed same-sex civil partnership bill, couples only need to register their signed and notarized civil partnership contract to the city or municipal hall.

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"Iyan lang ang requirement. Hindi requirement ang anumang kasalan. Walang officiating officer sa anumang seremonya. Iyong kontrata lang at pag-register nito sa city hall o munisipyo ang requirement sang-ayon sa mga pamantayan na nakasaad sa panukalang batas," she added.

(That is the only requirement. There is no wedding required. There is no officiationg officer for any ceremony. Only the contract and the registration at city or municipal hall are required under the guidelines in this proposed law.)

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Lawmakers have been using "civil partnership" or "civil union" to try to legalize same-sex marriage in the Philippines, but these efforts have failed to hurdle Congress due to fierce opposition from religious groups.

More than 78% of Filipinos identify as Catholic, according to 2020 figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

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