Senator Sonny Angara said the Department of Finance (DOF) has the right “formula” regardless of who sits as secretary.

Angara did not delve on rumors about a new DOF chief but said whoever will replace Secretary Benjamin Diokno has big shoes to fill.

“That’s always the prerogative of the President. He has to put someone there who he feels can execute and Secretary Ben Diokno was a good choice. I think we’ve reached a sweet spot there in the DOF where we’ve seen the benefits of being fiscally responsible, having a good credit rating, having a budget that responds to our people’s needs,” Angara said in an interview with news channel ANC on Monday.

Angara said despite different advocacies, presidents have followed a single formula in managing the country’s finances.

“Kahit nag-iiba ‘yung surface noise, ‘yung (Even though surface noises change, the) underlying economic policy has largely been the same because we know what formula works which is you have to be fiscally responsible. You cannot over spend, you cannot over tax your people also and you need good budgets and efficient spending. So, that formula largely has remained unchanged in respective on who sits there in the Department of Finance,” he said.

In a previous interview also with ANC, Diokno said he serves at the pleasure of the President.

“I’ll work until — as long as I’m needed in the government,” Diokno said. (PNA) 

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