FORMER Budget department of-ficer in charge (OIC) and Undersecretary Tina Marie Rose Canda passed away on Wednesday following a battle with cancer.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced her death and called her a “pillar of strength.”

“To Undersecretary Tina, thank you for dedicating your life to the DBM,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said in a statement on Thursday.

“We highly and sincerely appreciate the wisdom you have shared and will vow to build upon your legacy to provide better service for our countrymen, just as you have taught us,” she added.

A cause of death was not cited but Canda, who was 61, was said to have been previously diagnosed with cancer.

She retired from the DBM in January and died on Wednesday, August 23, which would have been her 41st year in the department.

“Her courage and relentless work ethic were most evident when despite having been diagnosed with stage-4 cancer, she reported for work every day with her usual dogged determination and even diligently attended the Congress hearings in 2022,” Pangandaman said.

“Despite her trials and tribulations, she bravely soldiered on.”

Prior to Pangandaman’s appointment, Canda held the position of officer in charge of the DBM, a role that demanded her leadership at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pangandaman said that Canda effectively oversaw multiple divisions, acting as the department’s primary point of contact for inquiries regarding budget policies and protocols, especially budget preparation, implementation and accountability phases.

“For me and a lot of her coworkers at the department, Undersecretary Tina was a gentle soul with a strong, dependable character,” Pangandaman said.

“She was a most comforting presence in the office where she spent endless hours laboring over paperwork to ensure deadlines were met, but she projected a certain lightheartedness, interjected with gentle laughter.”

Pangandaman added that Canda served as a guide and mentor to colleagues, enabling them to evolve into more proficient public servants.

“Indeed, Undersecretary Tina was a brilliant leader. She leaves behind a tremendous legacy of policies, best practices and a solid work ethic in the DBM,” the Budget chief said.

“To Undersecretary Tina’s family and loved ones, our words cannot take away the pain of loss, but we hope you find solace in knowing that the DBM family shares your grief.”