Gov. Arthur Yap reiterated that he is ready to extend help to Bohol and the Boholanos in his capacity as a  private citizen once his term as provincial governor ends on June 30, 2022.

This was the assurance of the governor in his latest public appearance, a little over a month before he relinquishes the gubernatorial seat to Governor-elect Erico Aristotle Aumentado.

He made the assurance during his brief speech at the first day of the provincial congress of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) on May 23, 2022 at the Bohol Tropics resort.

He said that even if he becomes a private citizen by June 30, 2022, he will help the province in whatever way in the future.

Yap, is an economist and lawyer before he joined government service, first as a member of the Cabinet of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and then transitioned to Congress, where he was a nine-year congressman of the 3rd district of Bohol, before he won the gubernatorial seat of Bohol in 2019 and served for one term.

“I will be out of office by June 30, [2022], tungod kay June 30, turnover sa leadership. Wala ta nahimong malampuson sa atong pangampanya sa atong pagdagan sa last election nato. So I will be a private citizen by June 30,” he told the barangay officials who attended the provincial congress.

“Apan dawata ang akong assurance kaninyong tanan. Bisan pa nga naa na ko sa pribadong sektor. Asa ko makatabang sa atong lalawigan, sa atong mga kaigsoonan, andam ko nga mutabang kaninyong tanan, in whatever capacity,” he said.

In his speech, he never provided any reference about where his next move would be, but he just assured the barangay officials of his assistance if the need arises.

Nonetheless, the governor is moving towards journalism as he is the newest columnist to hit the pages of The Bohol Tribune.

Yap’s column, FRAME OF MIND, is published on page 14. His column is published every fortnight or once every two weeks here at The Bohol Tribune.

The governor went on to thank the barangay officials, and by extension all Boholanos, not only for making him a part of the province’s history and also letting him a become a part of every Boholano’s life. 

“Gusto nako magpasalamat. Gusto nakong personal muatubang ninyong tanan. As I close my last month of service as governor of the province of Bohol, gusto ko magpasalamat nga giapil ko ninyo sa kasaysayan sa atong lalawigan, gipasulud ko ninyo sa inyong kinabuhi,” he told the barangay officials during the 3-day provincial congress which ended on May 25, 2022.

“It has been a life-enriching experience being the governor of the province of Bohol, especially sa panahon nga ang atong mga gi atubang [ang] mga grabe nga problema: typhoon Odette ug ang Covid [Coronavirus disease] 19,” he said.

Yap’s governorship faced a myriad of challenges including the problem of the African Swine Fever, aside from the Covid pandemic and the damage brought about by the onslaught of typhoon Odette, during his incumbency.

“We would not been able to solve/to cross and to survive sa mga problema nato sa Odette o ang problema nato sa Covid 19 kung wala ang tabang sa atong barangay kapitan ug sa mga barangay councils,” he quipped.

“Mao nga sa akong mga interviews ug sa mga interactions nako, kanunay nakong isulti sa tanan, ug ipahibaw sa tanan, the reason we are able to survive in Bohol, nga nahimo tang most competitive province sa tuig 2020, 2021 tungod sa kooperasyon, sa pagtinabangay sa atong mga mayor ug sa atong mga kapitan. Kamo ang hinungdan, kamo ang rason,” he said to the barangay officials.

He added: “Mao nga sa umaabot nga panahon, you have my prayers, you have my best wishes, tungod kay kahibaw ko nga grabe ang mga hagit nga atong atubangon sa umaabot nga panahon.”

SACRIFICE

Yap told the barangay officials that he wants to let them know that as governor he sacrificed and exerted effort to extend assistance to the barangays.

“Usa lang ang hangyo nako. Sa panahon as governor ninyo, ayaw kalimti nga si Gov. Art Yap, sa panahon niya, naningkamot para ninyong tanan, nag sakripsyo kaninyong tanan, naningkamot nga makatabang sa pamilyang Bol-anon, apil na sa paghatag sa mga proyekto, paghatag sa pagkaon, sa tambal, mga water projects, sa tabang karon 25 thousand [pesos] nga provincial aid kaninyong tanan; naningkamot kutob sa makaya nako, equal ang paghatag sa ayuda  ug tabang ug mga proyekto kaninyong tanan tungod kay di nako gusto nga isip amahan nga naa tay kaigsoonan nga gibati nila nga murag exempted sila,” he said in his brief speech.

Yap distributed the P25,000 annual aid to barangays during the barangay congress.

“Ang gusto ko ipabati sa tanan tanan [nga] ubos sa akong liderato ang tanang Bol-anon gusto nakong matabangan,” he emphasized.

“When the time comes, ayaw kalimti sa panahon ni Art Yap, kamong tanan gitagaan kutob sa makaya,” he added.

EXCITING TIMES

Meanwhile, in his speech, he pointed out that the next few days would be “exciting times” for the country as there is a possibility for Congress to pass new revenue legislation to address the need to pay off the national debt.

Yap said that the country has already a national debt equal to 70% of the gross domestic product of the country.

Based on sources from the National Treasury, the national debt stands at P12.03 trillion.

He said that the inability of the country to pay off its debts may cause a domino effect leading to higher commodity prices and in turn would make life harder for ordinary Filipinos. (with reports from Joshua Fullido)