Benguet caretaker assures continuity of programs of Fongwan

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Projects and programs for the province of Benguet which were started by the late Congressman Nestor Fongwan Sr. will continue thru the leadership of the new caretaker.
Benguet Board Member and La Trinidad Councilor Nestor Fongwan Jr. told the people of the province that the newly appointed Benguet caretaker, Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT- CIS) Party list Representative Eric Go-Yap, assured to continue the advocacies, plans and programs of the late Benguet solon who died last December due to illness.
On Jan. 22, the House of Representatives unanimously approved in motion the appointment of Rep. Eric Go-Yap as the caretaker of Benguet. Fongwan Jr. said that as per record, House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano manifested the vacancy of the office and upon motion of Deputy Majority Leader Cong. Xavier Jesus Romualdo, Yap was unanimously approved to serve as the legislative caretaker of the lone district of Benguet.
Fongwan Jr. together with Marie Rose Kepes, Chief of Staff of the Lone District of Benguet, and Abra Congressman Joseph Bernos met with Cong. Yap on Tuesday for a coordination meeting for a smooth operation of their office and to assure that the bills initiated by the late Fongwan Sr. will be attended to and accomplished accordingly.
“He assured us that he will continue to maintain the congressional offices at the capitol building in La Trinidad as well as that at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, including the staff of the former solon,” Fongwan Jr. said.
He added Yap committed his time for Benguet until the expiration of his term in 2022. He also assured that the advocacies of Fongwan Sr. particularly the medical assistance for indigent patients , scholarships program for over a thousand students and other needs for the province and the people of Benguet will be continued.
Fongwan Jr. called on the people of Benguet to respect the decision of the House of Representative in appointing a non-Cordilleran as caretaker.
Prior to the appointment of Yap, the family has sent to the House of Representatives their recommendation for a Cordillera congressman as the caretaker of the province.He said their family respect the decision for the good of the people of Benguet and to the House Speaker who is given the authority under the law to do such.
He clarified that the selection of a party list representative as caretaker of a congressional district is not the first time. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Pangasinan Cong. Rose Marie Arenas as caretaker of Batanes, and then House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr appointed Akbayan’s Kaka Bag-ao as Dinagat caretaker.
On January 29, Wednesday, Cong. Yap was given a traditional welcome by the provincial government of Benguet led by Gov. Melchor Diclas at the Benguet Sports Complex. He also met with Benguet officials including the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, the municipal mayors and other officials of the 13 towns and the provincial employees./Redjie Melvic M. Cawis (JDP/ RMC- PIA CAR)