President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today said she was working closely with Congress on ways of getting the national budget quickly in place to enable the country to overcome the fiscal crisis with the support of the people.

In a statement, the President admitted that the Philippines was in the midst of a fiscal crisis as she exhorted her countrymen to face the problem squarely by "wielding our courage, resources and solidarity as a nation and people."

"I am working with Congress on the strategies to get the budget in place and we are hoping to work this out with public support and openness to sacrifice," she said.

The President acknowledged that average Filipinos were taking the brunt of sacrifices, but "we have to gather round again as one national community to take stock of the future."

"This government will not exact sacrifices that we ourselves are not willing to take and are not willing to enforce among those who can most afford it," she stressed.

The Chief Executive expressed deep appreciation for the "concern and suggestions being put forth by well meaning quarters to resolve the crisis," adding that she viewed the proposals on how to meet the current challenges facing the country as a "sign of sincere concern that must be translated into deeper public awareness and action."

Some quarters have warned that the Philippines faces a deepening economic crisis arising from the unabated oil price increases worldwide and the country’s burgeoning budget deficit.

The President said that the pain inflicted on the nation by the fiscal crisis is "imminent but it will be shared fairly and without putting one over the other."