HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin said the tension over a microphone scuffle during the plenary deliberations of the Department of Health budget was an unfortunate incident that begs for understanding from the public who will ultimately benefit from the heated discourse.
“Emotional outbursts typically occur when passions run high during clashes of views between opposing legislators, epecially when they are deliberating on the general appropriations bill under time pressure,” said Garin, a committed advocate for an improved health care programs.
Garin issued the statement following a rash of judgement in the internet from a polarized netizens whose views may cause unintentional damage to the integrity of the lawmaking process.
“Liwanagin lang natin na yung viral video tungkol sa proseso ng debate ay hindi bastusan sa pagitan ng mga nagtatalong miyembro ng Kamara kundi mainitang paggiit ng ideya at mungkahi ng bawat panig habang hinahabol na maipasa sa mga huling oras ng pinakahuling gabi ng sesyun ang panukalang batas para sa ating pambansang badyet,” explained Garin, who is also known as Doc Nanay in health communities.
The Iloilo representative admitted that she herself has become emotionally charged as viewed and heard in the video because as a zealous advocate of an improved public health care, she wouldn’t want the DOH budget to be sacrificed.
“Tatlong araw nang pabalik-balik ang taga-DOH para maisaayos ang badyet para sa kanilang mga programang maibigay ang maayos na serbisyo sa Filipino… kaya nang makita kong inagaw ng isang kongresista ang mikropono para sa kanyang paulit-ulit na pagtangkang mabalam ang proseso ay agaran kong sinuportahan ang mosyon ng minority na tapusin ang balitaktakan sa plenaryo,” Garin further explained.
On Wednesday’s final night of House plenary deliberation of the DOH budget, Agri party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee tried to interrupt Senior Deputy Minority Leader Paul Daza and grabbed the microphone while the latter was moving to terminate the deliberations on the DOH budget.
This prompted Garin to move to terminate the plenary deliberations abruptly.
DOH’s proposed budget was initially deliberated last Monday, Sept. 23, but Lee requested to have the discussions postponed due to some of his concerns.
The House leadership explained that there was not enough time for Lee’s requests as it was the last day of the session and the House needed to pass the budget bill before break, and considering that that all the requests of Lee to DOH have been considered.
“Ang problema lang doon, ‘yung iba niyang hinihingi ay hindi kayang agad-agad…May mga proseso ‘yan, may mga papeles, may mga board resolutions na hindi kayang i-present within that day,” the Iloilo 1st District representative said.
Garin explained that after the microphone scuffle incident, she already discussed the issue with Lee who agreed that what happened was purely work-related and nothing personal… “and all is well that ends well.”
