CONGRESSMEN are certain that the controversial Reproductive Health bill will be passed when the House of Representatives vote on the measure.

Proponents of the bill said more lawmakers have pledged their support to the measure which will be tackled next week.

“We are doing a political mapping and we assure you that if a vote is taken it would pass,” Minority Leader Edcel Lagman said.

The solon said he was assured by the House leadership that discussions on the RH bill will resume Tuesday next week.

Lagman added more lawmakers are convinced of the need to have a Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Management law.

Asked to react to the announcement of the Catholic Church that it is no longer keen on holding a dialogue with   Malacañang on the issue, Lagman quipped “the Church has seen the writings on the wall.”

Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas said that since Congress has devoted much time to the RH bill, it is time to vote on it.

“I would suggest a closure of the debate because this has divided the nation already. Let’s vote on it and accept whatever the result is, kung panalo o talo,” Cagas said.

Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tanada III said there will be no postponement of the deliberations amid calls from Senator Vicente Sotto III to temporarily halt it until an investigation is conducted into the alleged misuse of P2.6 billion intended for the family health program from 2008 to 2010 under the Department of Health’s integrated Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) strategy.

“The question of whether or not the funds for MNCHN have been used for corruption is entirely different from the issue of the soundness of a law on Reproductive Health. We should be careful not to confuse the two,” Tanada said.

Aquino prodded

Former president Fidel V. Ramos meanwhile urged President Benigno Aquino III to certify the RH bill as urgent.

Speaking at the “Purple Ribbon” launch yesterday to push the measure, Ramos prodded Aquino to “do the right thing.”

“Mr. President, with due respect, for you to do the right thing, you must now certify the RH bill as urgent,” he said. “Let me appeal to our highest elected leader who occupies Malacañang, our beloved President Aquino. As your boss — that’s us — we ask his Excellency to lead the campaign for the enactment of the RH bill.”

He noted that the Philippines signed an agreement in Cairo in 1994 to cut infant mortality and maternal deaths which the measure aims to address.