MANILA (PNA) — Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte, Jr. assured that the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill will be voted on in plenary.

Belmonte, however, said that he was not sure if the proposed measure would pass the House committee and how members of the Lower Chamber would cast their votes "because in the social setting of the country, it’s a conscience vote of everybody."

The bill has been in the Chamber since the 10th Congress but has always failed to get the lawmakers’ approval.

The proposed RH bill calls for government to promote both artificial and natural methods of family planning and sexuality education, as well as responsible parenthood.

Two bills authored by House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Iloilo Rep. Janet Garin have been refiled so far in the 15th Congress.

As for the bill legalizing divorce, the Speaker said he would leave it up to the appropriate committee to determine its fate.

"What I’m saying is let this bill, including the controversial ones go through the mill and not kill them right away in the committee at an early stage. Let them go through the mill and we’ll find out sooner or later where everybody stands," he said.