The majority of Filipinos oppose the civil union of same-sex couples, a private pollster said amid efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in the predominantly Southeast Asian Catholic country.

According to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, three in five or 61 percent of Filipinos disapprove of a legally recognized union of two men or two women.

Of this number, 44 percent strongly disagree, 17 percent somewhat disagree, while only 22 percent agree with the idea. The remaining 16 percent are undecided.

This yields a net agreement score of -40, which SWS considers as "very weak."

The SWS had conducted the survey among 1,200 respondents from March 23 to 27 with a margin of error of ±3.

Opposing the civil union of same-sex couples are mostly religious groups.

The SWS noted that net agreement was lowest among members of Iglesia ni Cristo at an "extremely weak" -64, followed by members of Christian denominations also at an "extremely weak" -55, Muslims at a "very weak" -48, and Catholics at a "very weak" -36.

Opposition was also strongest among single men who are widowed, separated or divorced, with an "extremely weak" agreement score of -70.

Manila has said the country is not yet ready for same-sex marriage.

Same-sex marriage is currently allowed in 26 countries, including the United States, Australia, Brazil, and Canada.

No Asian country has legally allowed same-sex marriage yet.

Catholic prelates welcomed the result of the survey showing that the majority of Filipinos do not support the legalization of same-sex union in the country.

Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos noted that the survey showed that more Filipinos are pro-family and only support marriage between a man and a woman.

“This shows the deep religiosity of the Filipinos, they still are closed knit families, who value the sanctity and stability of marriage as just a man and a woman join together in marriage, not just union or partnership of same sex,” he said in an interview over the weekend.

The Catholic prelate reiterated that the family is composed of a man, woman, and their children.

“Family is a husband, a wife, and the children. Family builds up the society. A strong and united family makes the country peaceful and progressive,” Santos said.

“Same-sex union does not make a family. It is union because of common likes and dislikes. Supreme Court (SC) must rule against same-sex civil union” he added.

For his part, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said the survey is a good argument against those who are pushing for same-sex union in the country.

“I am elated to know that the majority of Filipinos are opposed to a nonsensical same-sex marriage. This is a very good argument against the proponents of this idea when oral arguments are to be presented at the SC,” Bastes said in a separate interview.

“The SC should be sensitive to the voice of our good people who follow our Constitution that marriage is defined as a union of man and woman! Filipino culture abhors the marriage of two men or of two women! It is unthinkable in our way of life, which is our culture! Besides, Same-sex marriage is a great infraction of our Constitution which we Filipinos must uphold, based on our culture and on our faith in the true and living God,” he added.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said this week is in favor of same-sex union but against same-sex marriage.

"The president opposes same-sex marriage. The president is part of the majority in opposing (same-sex marriage), but as for union, the president is in favor of it," presidential spokesman Harry Roque told a news conference in Mason City in Southern Leyte in the central Philippines.

He said Duterte favors same-sex civil union because it "fixes the different aspects of the union of those of the same sex."

In December last year, Duterte said that he was in favor of changing the law to allow same-sex marriage in the Philippines.

"I want gay marriage. The problem is we have to change the law, but we can change the law," Duterte said in a speech before a gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) in Davao City.

A panel in the House of Representatives of the Philippines is deliberating a bill legalizing same-sex and live-in relationships, calling it a civil partnership.

If the House bill becomes law, same-sex and live-in couples may be able to enjoy benefits given to married couples. House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, a friend and ally of Duterte, authored the bill.

The bill proposes "to allow couples to enter into a civil partnership, whether they are of the opposite or of the same sex."