EAGER to have the Reproductive Bill put to the vote, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. yesterday vowed to eliminate dilatory tactics when the House tackles the measure.

Belmonte said he will block attempts to derail the proceedings.

“We should really try to control dilatory tactics like repetitive questions. We will be coming up with ground rules for both sides,” he told reporters. Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman earlier asked Belmonte to streamline the proceedings to block the delaying attempts of some lawmakers against the passage of the RH bill. Lagman said repetitive questions should not be entertained to save time.

The Speaker said it’s time for lawmakers to vote on the bill.

“Everybody is so confident, the pro and anti-RH. Let’s put this bill into a vote,” he said.

He admitted that the House of Representatives will not be able to pass the measure before Congress adjourns on June 9. However, he is certain that they will reach the major vote when session resumes on the fourth Monday of July.

Belmonte said the Catholic Church may influence some individual members but it cannot pressure the entire House of Representatives.

He said President Benigno Aquino III who supports the responsible parenthood measure has not asked them to deliberate the measure so that it can be approved with dispatch.

Lagman said around 50 lawmakers who opposed the measure expressed the desire to interpellate  when the bill is tackled on second reading.