Eric Yap

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Go and the surname or paternal family name is Yap.

Eric Go Yap (born May 11, 1979) is a Filipino politician serving as the Representative for Benguet's lone congressional district since 2022, and was the district's legislative caretaker from January 2020 until he was elected in his own right. He was a party-list representative for ACT-CIS from 2019 to 2022, and is the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations since March 2020.

The Honorable Eric Yap
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Benguet's lone district
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2022 Caretaker: January 20, 2020 – June 30, 2022
Preceded by	Nestor B. Fongwan
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for ACT-CIS party-list
In office June 30, 2019 – June 30, 2022 Serving with Jocelyn Pua-Tulfo and Niña Taduran
House committee chairmanships Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations Incumbent Assumed office March 2, 2020 Preceded by Isidro Ungab Chair of the House Committee on Games and Amusements In office July 22, 2019 – March 2, 2020 Preceded by Gustavo Tambunting Succeeded by Joseph Bernos
Personal details
Born	Eric Go Yap (1979-05-11) May 11, 1979 (age 43)
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	National Unity Party (2019–present)^[1]
Other political affiliations	United Benguet Party ACT-CIS (2018–2022)
Alma mater	University of Santo Tomas (BS)

Yap is among the principal authors of House Bill No. 5477 which was signed into law as Republic Act No. 11463 in December 2019 as an act to establish the Malasakit Centers—a one-stop shop for government medical and financial assistance^[2] and among the main proponents of House Bill 7778 or the establishment of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera.^[3]

Yap spearheaded various programs in Benguet such as Mobile Tulong,^[4] Mobile Oxygen,^[5] Youth Assistance Program,^[6] and infrastructure projects.^[7]

Education

Yap studied in the University of Santo Tomas from 1997 to 2002, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree.^[8]

Political career

House of Representatives

Representative of ACT-CIS party-list

Yap, along with Jocelyn Pua-Tulfo and Rowena Niña Taduran, were elected as party-list representatives for ACT-CIS in the 2019 elections.^[9][10] Garnering 2.6 million votes (9.45% of the turnout), ACT-CIS topped the party-list election and won the maximum three seats.^[9][11] On the commencement of the 18th congress, Yap was appointed as chairman of the Games and Amusements Committee.^[12][13]

Yap was one of the principal authors of House Bill No. 5477 which was signed into law as Republic Act No. 11463 by President Duterte in December 2019 which institutionalizes the Malasakit Centers—a one-stop shop for government medical and financial assistance.^[14][15]

On March 2, 2020, Yap was appointed as chairman of the Appropriations Committee replacing Isidro Ungab (Davao City–3rd). Yap is the first neophyte congressman and first party-list representative to lead the Committee on Appropriations.^[13]

In June 2020, Yap along with Paolo Duterte and Lord Allan Velasco, filed House Bill No. 7031 which aims to rename Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas. Yap explained that they were "not discrediting the heroic contributions of late Senator Aquino...we just deem it more appropriate for our international airport to bear the name of the country. Instead of it reflecting just one hero, we want it to reflect our everyday heroes—the Filipino people."^[16]

ABS-CBN franchise, House leadership crisis

In July 2020, amid the House's hearing on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, Yap disclosed that an emissary from the media company attempted to bribe him ₱200 million to vote in favor of the network's franchise renewal. Yap responded that his "principle and vote are not for sale". In an official statement, ABS-CBN denied Yap's allegations, saying: "We believe in the process and we have participated in the process".^[17] Yap later clarified that "he was not accusing ABS-CBN", explaining that he received a phone call from "someone claiming to be an ABS-CBN emissary", and that he was not able to verify if the caller's claims were true.^[18] On July 10, Yap, together with 69 other members of the Committee on Legislative Franchises, voted to deny the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise.^[19]

During the speakership crisis between Alan Peter Cayetano and Lord Allan Velasco, the former met with Paolo Duterte and Yap.^[20] However, Yap clarified that he did not side with either of the two.^[21] On October 13, when Cayetano and Velasco both claimed to be the speaker, Yap requested the rivals to settle the issue or else he, as chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, would handle the deliberations for the 2021 national budget.^[22] When Velasco replaced Cayetano, Yap was allowed to keep his committee chairmanship.^[23] On November 18, he became a vice chair of the Committee on Accounts where Paolo Duterte was the new chairman.^[24]

Legislative caretaker of Benguet

After the death of Benguet representative Nestor Fongwan Sr. on December 18, 2019, Yap was appointed as the legislative caretaker of the district on January 20, 2020.^[25][26][27] The appointment was controversial as Yap is not from Benguet or Cordillera. If Yap becomes the permanent representative, it would be a violation of Republic Act No. 6645 which requires a special election to fill such vacancies in the House.^[tone] The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Benguet has passed a resolution asking Congress to conduct the special election.^[28]

One of Yap's plans for Benguet was to re-nationalize Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) and increase its bed capacity.^[15] In September 2020, he attended the opening ceremony of BeGH's molecular biology laboratory, which he personally funded. However, the project was criticized for bearing Yap's name as Benguet General Hospital Molecular Biology Laboratory Eric Yap Building. Yap claimed he was unaware that the hospital management named the laboratory after him. He then asked the management to remove his name from the laboratory.^[29][30]

Yap was known to visit remote areas of Benguet to extend public service and implement projects.^[31][32]

Committee assignments and House positions

Yap served on the following House committees and in the following House positions.

• 18th congress (2019–2022) – Chair of the Committee on Appropriations (since March 2, 2020); chair of the Committee on Games and Amusements (until March 2, 2020); a vice chair of the Committees on Games and Amusements (since March 2, 2020), Good Government and Public Accountability, Government Enterprises and Privatization, Ways and Means, and Accounts (since November 18, 2020); member of the Committees on Banks and Financial Intermediaries; Energy; Flagship Programs and Projects; Foreign Affairs; Higher and Technical Education; Justice; Legislative Franchises; Overseas Workers Affairs; Public Accounts; Public Works and Highways; and Transportation.^{[citation needed]}

Congressman of Benguet

Yap was elected as Representative for Benguet's lone congressional district by a landslide over his closest rival, Itogon mayor Victor Palangdan in the 2022 May elections.^[31]

Personal life

Yap is a close friend of Paolo Duterte.^[33][34][35]

Yap was a judge at the finals night of Miss Universe Philippines 2020, the pageant's first edition.^[36]

References

1. Cruz, RG (August 1, 2019). "Paolo Duterte adopted in National Unity Party". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
2. Ranada, Pia. . Rappler. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
3. "Benguet Caretaker files Cordillera autonomy bill". NEDA CAR. October 5, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
4. "Congressman Yap assures continuity of mobile 'tulong' program". Herald Express. February 28, 2021.
5. "Benguet hospital receives oxygen tanks". Zigzag Weekly. October 31, 2021.
6. "P25 million set aside for Youth Assistance Program in Benguet". Herald Express. May 16, 2021.
7. "More infra projects in Benguet". SunStar Baguio. September 16, 2020.
8. Antonio, Raymund (July 4, 2022). . Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
9. . The Philippine Star. May 22, 2019. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
10. Gavilan, Jodesz (May 23, 2019). . Rappler. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
11. Delizo, Michael Joe (May 22, 2019). . ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
12. Cepeda, Mara (July 22, 2019). . Rappler. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
13. Porcalla, Delon (March 3, 2020). . The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
14. Ranada, Pia. . Rappler. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
15. Hent (February 10, 2020). . Herald Express. Baguio City. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
16. Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (June 26, 2020). . Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
17. Dela Cruz, Divina Nova Joy (July 9, 2020). . The Manila Times. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
18. Maru, Davinci (July 9, 2020). . ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
19. Perez-Rubio, Bella (July 10, 2020). . The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on August 23, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
20. . CNN Philippines. September 27, 2020. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
21. Colcol, Erwin (October 1, 2020). . GMA News. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
22. Mercado, Neil Arwin (October 13, 2020). . Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 15, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
23. . ABS-CBN News. October 13, 2020. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
24. Mercado, Neil Arwin (November 18, 2020). . Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
25. "Party-list solon designated as Benguet caretaker". GMA News Online. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
26. Agoot, Liza; Dennis, Jr., Dionisio. "House names party-list solon as Benguet caretaker". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
27. Soriano, Michelle. "ACT-CIS' Eric Go Yap appointed caretaker congressman of Benguet". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
28. Cimatu, Frank (January 22, 2020). "House names non-Cordilleran as Benguet caretaker congressman". Rappler. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
29. Cepeda, Mara (September 14, 2020). "Lawmaker Eric Yap mocks Pinoy Ako Blog for Benguet lab jab". Rappler. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
30. Alimondo, Lauren (September 15, 2020). . SunStar. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
31. Comanda Rizaldy C. (May 11, 2022). . Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
32. Herald Express News Team (September 14, 2020). . Herald Express. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020.
33. Cepeda, Mara (September 23, 2020). . Rappler. Archived from the original on October 6, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020. ACT-CIS Representative Eric Yap, Paolo Duterte's close friend...
34. Yap, DJ (March 4, 2020). . Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020. Rep. Eric Yap of the ACT-CIS party list, a close friend of the President's son, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte.
35. Quismorio, Ellson (October 8, 2020). . Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020. ...ACT-CIS Party-List Rep. Eric Yap, a close friend of the Davao solon...
36. . Rappler. October 24, 2020. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.

External links

• Hon. Yap, Eric Go on House of Representatives