THE 13 chief executives of Benguet want the appointed caretaker of the province to serve the remaining term of the late Congressman Nestor Fongwan Sr.
In a special meeting earlier this week, the 13 mayors from Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Itogon, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, La Trinidad, Mankayan, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay passed a resolution manifesting their opposition for the conduct of a special election for the vacated seat of for the lone district of Benguet.
The House of Representatives earlier appointed ACT-CIS representative Eric Go Yap to become the caretaker of the province following the demise of Fongwan Sr. on December 18 last year.
“The League of Municipalities of Benguet province manifested its warm greetings and congratulations to honorable Congressman Eric Go Yap, who in turn, accepted wholeheartedly the challenge to represent Benguet with the promise to extend better public service to its people,” the resolution disclosed.
The mayors added with a month or two of his appointment, “Congressman Yap displayed passion to serve the people of Benguet. Thus, the League of Mayors of Benguet is furthering its manifestation of appreciation and strong support to the caretaker Congressman of the Lone District of the province of Benguet.”
Earlier, members of the Benguet Provincial Board approved a resolution on January 13 calling for the conduct of special election in the province after the death of the lawmaker. The resolution was supported by the municipal council of La Trinidad.
“The winner in the special election enjoys a fresh mandate from the people to govern and implement programs, projects and activities that redound to the utmost benefit of the province and its people,” lawmakers added.
League of Mayors of Benguet president and Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said it is best for Congressman Yap to represent the province in the Congress.
“Once we conduct elections, the remaining term for the congressman then will only be one year, useless, and costly. And the most important thing is that he was appointed as chair for committee on appropriation so the province will gain benefits once he will be steady caretaker of our province,” Palangdan said.
Palangdan added after the demise of Fongwan, the province wants to have special election.
“But when we meet Yap as caretaker of the province, we saw for the first time in history in the province of Benguet a congressman meeting 13 mayors expressing his desire to improve our province. It’s better to let him continue as the representative of the province in Congress,” Palangdan added.
Yap meanwhile thanked the 13 mayors and assured better services for the province during his term as caretaker.
“Tayo po ay nagpapasalamat sa ating mga Mayor para sa kanilang suporta at tiwala sa ating kakayahan na makapagsilbi. Ang gusto lang naman natin ay ihatid ang nararapat na serbisyo para sa ating mga kababayan sa Benguet,” Yap said.
“Mandato natin bilang public servant na tugunan ang inatas sa atin na trabaho - ang magsilbi para sa probinsya ng Benguet. Ating gagawin ang lahat ng ating makakaya para ating magampanan ang katungkulan na ito,” the solon added.