Press Release
December 2, 2007

Angara: 'balance duty and compassion'

"Balance duty and compassion."

This is what Senator Edgardo Angara said during the critical hours of the Manila Peninsula siege.

Senator Angara, chair of the Senate Subcommittee C of Finance was presenting the budget of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Tourism to the plenary when the tank pushed its way to the Manila Peninsula lobby.

Several senators suggested forgoing the budget interpolation of the remaining departments as a sign of compassion for the safety of the attendees of the budget presentations in the senate.

But according to Senator Angara, both the executive and legislative branches of government should "balance duty and compassion," and hence should speedily finish the budget presentation instead of forgoing it for another day.

"These people have been waiting here for the submission of their budget since 9 in the morning, even before the hotel siege happened. I hope we do not keep them waiting any longer," asserted Senator Angara.

"While we recognize the events in Makati, we must still continue with our duty here, and that is to finish the budget submission and interpolation of the departments' budgets," Senator Angara said.

"The national budget is the single most important piece of legislation that we should pass. Being unable to pass this budget means reverting to last year's budget, and that to me, has even more dire consequences than the siege, especially since we have increased spending in education and infrastructures," said Senator Angara.

Senator Angara finished submitting the budgets of all the departments and agencies under his subcommittee, except for the budgets of the National Housing Authority and the National Youth Commission.

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