ANGARA SUPPORTS P-NOY'S CALL FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Following President Noynoy Aquino's call for fiscal responsibility during his maiden SONA, Senator Edgardo Angara urged his fellow legislators to pass the Fiscal Responsibility Act which essentially bars the passage of laws that have no funding source.

To date, Congress has passed P104.1 Billion worth of unfunded laws, which "not only clutters our statute books, but also gives false hopes to Filipinos who earnestly wait for these laws' implementation," said Angara.

"I fully support Pres. Aquino's call that laws should not be passed by Congress if there is no identified source of funds for it," said Angara, adding that this move is timely and appropriate.

The Fiscal Responsibility Act aims at regulating and providing funds to legislative reforms and programs that Congress initiates. Sens. Franklin Drilon, Serge Osmeña, Miguel Zubiri, Loren Legarda and Allan Cayetano have also expressed their support for the Act, in the hopes that current reforms and those filed in the previous Congress will be passed.

"We cannot simply file bills and pass laws for the sake of passing it. We need to regulate which laws and reforms will make the most impact to people's lives, and we must ensure that these laws are funded and implemented," added Angara.

Angara has also committed to support President Aquino's announcement to convene the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) and discuss the important bills that Congress must prioritize.