ACT CIS Party-list and Benguet caretaker representative was named the new chairman for the appropriation committee, replacing Davao City Representative Isidro Ungab, who was ousted from his post on March 2.
According to Yap, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano approached him Monday morning, Marso 2 and asked him to take over the committee on appropriations.
“Gaya ng ibang responsibilidad na iniatang sa atin, buong puso kong tinatanggap ang hamon na pagiging Chairman ng House Committee on Appropriations. Ito ay malugod nating tinanggap para tayo ay lalong makapagsilbi sa sambayanang Pilipino,” Yap said in a statement sent to SunStar Baguio.
(Like other responsibilities given to me, I whole-heartedly accept the challenge of being the chairman of House committee on appropriations. I am glad to accept it so that I can serve the Filipino people.)
Kabataan Party-list Representative Ron Salo also replaced Oriental Mindoro Representative Salvador “Doy” Leachon as the new head of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal.
“Higit kalahating taon pa lang tayo na nasa Kongreso, pero naging saksi ang ating mga kababayan at kasamahan dito sa Kongreso na tinutukan natin ang bawat trabahong ipinagkatiwala sa atin. Kahit ang pagpapasa ng 2020 budget, naging bahagi tayo ng Bicam para siguraduhin na ang budget ay tunay na sumasalamin sa pangangailangan ng bawat distrito at ahensiya sa ating bansa,” Yap added.
(I’ve been in the Congress for only half a year but our fellowmen and our colleagues in the Congress witnessed that I have fulfilled each of the task trusted on me. Even in the passing of the 2020 budget, I was part of the bicam to ensure that the budget really represents the needs of each district and government agency.)
The new chairman said he was a member of the bicameral conference committee on the 2020 General Appropriations Act.
“Isang magandang pagkakataon ang ating pagkakatalaga upang tiyakin na ang lahat ng mga panukalang dadaan sa Appropriations Committee ay magiging kapakipakinabang ng karamihan ng ating mga kababayan. Titiyakin nating magiging neutral tayo at makikinig tayo sa lahat ng pangangailangan upang magampanan natin ng tama ang power of the purse ng Kongreso,” Yap said.
The party list solon added aside from the general appropriations of the national government, Yap’s committee will also tackle the different priority projects of the government that includes social delivery programs which needs funding.
“Bilang Legislative Caretaker ng Benguet, magandang pagkakataon din ito upang maihatid natin at maramdaman ang tunay na pangangailangan ng mga taga Benguet sa pamamagitan ng mga priority projects na makakatulong sa tao,” Yap added. (with a report from SunStar Philippines)