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[4] and among the main proponents of House Bill 7778 or the establishment of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera.[5]
Yap spearheaded various programs in Benguet such as Mobile Tulong,[6] Mobile Oxygen,[7] Youth Assistance Program,[8] and infrastructure projects.[9]
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.[19][20]
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.[18]
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."[21]
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".[22] 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.[23] 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.[24]
During the speakership crisis between Alan Peter Cayetano and Lord Allan Velasco, the former met with Paolo Duterte and Yap.[25] However, Yap clarified that he did not side with either of the two.[26] 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.[27] When Velasco replaced Cayetano, Yap was allowed to keep his committee chairmanship.[28] On November 18, he became a vice chair of the Committee on Accounts where Paolo Duterte was the new chairman.[29]
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.[30][31][32] The appointment became controversial as Yap is not from Benguet or Cordillera. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Benguet has passed a resolution asking Congress to conduct a special election to fill the vacancy in the House.[33] In May 2020, the SP passed another resolution making Yap an "adopted son of Benguet" in recognition for his sincere support for the province.[34]
One of Yap's plans for Benguet was to re-nationalize Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) and increase its bed capacity.[20] 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 said he was unaware that the hospital management named the laboratory after him. He then asked the management to remove his name from the laboratory.[35][36]
Yap was known to visit remote areas of Benguet to extend public service and implement projects.[37][38]
In October 2021, presidential aspirant and Senator Manny Pacquiao accused Yap of being involved in alleged overpriced slope protection and flood control projects in Benguet.[39] Yap lamented that his political opponents were attempting to discredit him by using Pacquiao.[40] A few days after the accusation, Benguet mayors came to Yap's defense and expressed dismay at Pacquiao's pronouncements saying:
We are saddened that Senator Pacquiao came and just questioned Congressman Yap’s presence in Benguet. It should not need emphasis but for Senator Pacquiao’s informed realization, Congressman Yap is our own. He was adopted by us. He is one of us.
— Mayors of the Municipalities of Benguet, Statement of Support for Cong. Eric Yap[39][41]
Committee assignments and House positions
Yap served on the following House committees and in the following House positions.
^Yap, DJ (March 4, 2020). "Palace: Duterte won't interfere in House rivalry". 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.
^Quismorio, Ellson (October 8, 2020). "Pulong refuses to choose between Alan Peter, Lord". 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...
