Aquino getting impatient over RH bill passage

President Benigno Aquino III

President Benigno Aquino III is getting impatient over the slow pace of the passage of the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill at present under acrimonious plenary discussions in the House of Representatives, according to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte.

He said the President had asked him about the chances of the bill getting approved in the plenary this year or early next year when he met with him recently.

Belmonte said he admitted to the President that the chances of such an event happening were nil, considering the long list of lawmakers against the measure who wanted to interpellate its supporters.

Belmonte noted that Congress had only six days to go before the Christmas break, yet many House members still wanted to interpellate.

“I’m sorry to admit that we may not be able to put it to a vote now, but certainly we will try to do so when we reconvene. That’s what I told the President.”

Belmonte added, “And he said, ‘please do your best.’”

Belmonte said he would take a look at the ground rules proposed by some parties that should be put in place to hasten the debate and finally get over the issue that had been “plaguing the House for many, many years.”

“So we’ll give it a try before we reconvene,” he said.

Belmonte said he wanted the debates on the RH issue “more sane and rational.”

He noted that there were times when a single congressman would interpellate another on the bill for two or three days, oftentimes fielding repetitious questions.

Belmonte appealed to his colleagues to cooperate in making the debates sensible so that the House could proceed with other issues, particularly those involving the economy.

He said the House would set a meeting with senators next week to review what exactly were the bills that got passed and those that were on third reading.