LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET — Congressman Eric Go Yap affirmed his commitment to the province’s development, highlighting recent legislative successes and painting an optimistic vision for its future in his message for Benguet’s founding anniversary and the Adivay Festival.
Yap emphasized the day’s significance as a mark of a new beginning and a time to recommit to the promise of a better future as celebration for the province’s foundation marked the first time the date was officially observed as a non-working holiday.
“Every Adivay is a reminder of one truth; that we will rise higher when we rise together because we are built on shared dreams and shared sacrifices,” Yap underscored.
The solon also detailed several key legislative achievements and upcoming proposals aimed at bolstering the province’s educational and judicial infrastructure.
Yap reported that Benguet State University (BSU) will now expand to Kapangan after his house bill recently passed the committee level in Congress and at the same time securing funding for improved BSU facilities, including the College of Medicine and College of Nursing buildings, as well as the improvement of a tartanized oval.
These improvements are an off shoot of the law establishing a College of Medicine at BSU which was enacted in 2023.
Yap also expressed confidence in securing 2026 funding for approximately 313 new classrooms across 34 public schools in the province.
In a bid to improve judicial services, Yap added he has also sought the increase in the number of Municipal Trial Courts in La Trinidad, which was also approved in the committee level last week.
The Congressman vowed to double his effort despite current challenges, stating his obligation to continue working for his constituents.
He cited a recent visit to barangays which reminded him that “marami pa rin nahihirapan at kailangan tulungan (many are still struggling and need help).” He pledged to remain in his post until his last day.
Yap declared that “Benguet is destined for great things and is no longer a sleeping giant,” while laying out ambitious plans for key municipalities.
“La Trinidad will be a city few years from now, konting push pa sa income at population but we’ll get
there. Kailangan lang magkaroon ng tamang plano to cope up with the cost of development like congestion and peace and order. I think Itogon should be an industrialized City too, there’s so much potential in Itogon. Buguias and Mankayan should have no problem driving our local economy in the north. Kabayan will have its own district hospital in the near future, and I am working for the enactment of my proposal in Congress for this. Atok and Tuba will be our tourism gems, sobrang ganda ninyo. Ganun din ang Bakun, Kapangan, Kibungan at Tublay, you are a potential adventure chain of our province with so much things to enjoy for our tourists and adventure-seeking people. Sablan have so much to offer, let us take advantage of your geography. Bokod will continue improving by leaps and bounds and you will capitalize on your natural beauty to boost our local economy,” Yap quipped.
Yap cautioned everyone on development, urging officials and residents to ensure that “nobody to be displaced by big corporations and businesses.” NLMonitor
