T The legacy his forebears handed down to Congressman Arthur Cua Yap (ACY) transcends generations of tenacity and endurance reflective of his ancestors’ bravery in facing all odds life could bring; never cowed by atrocities perpetrated by self-proclaimed prophets of doom who only see the side of the bread that is buttered for their enjoyment, unethically unmindful of adverse effects their discriminatory and derogatory innuendos could entail. Congressman Yap has long proven that, while others wax eloquent and verbose about their promises to the masses, he kept a low profile, evaded high-fallutin rhetoric, and ruled his sleeves to go down to work. While his peers robbed elbows with the cosmopolitan sophistication, he went to the boon docks and inspired the neglected masses to toil harder for more productivity and self-respect. The Chinese-Tausug reached the hearts of the grassroots and gave them a ray of hope. They see in him not a stranger alienated from their culture, but a partner that enhances their capabilities for a more promising future.

Congressman Yap has gone all over the globe, not as a pleasure-seeking lothario, but as a leader who wants to imbibe more knowledge for his countrymen. Trusted and respected, he had met and conversed with world leaders, with each making a lasting impression on him as a doer, not a dreamer. LMP:When you entered politics, did you already expect that it would be a chaotic world? ACY: It’s never as you expect it. You know what it will entail. You know how rough, tumbled and topsy-turvy politics is. You are never prepared for it. You’ll have to go through it and experience what it is to be in a washing machine. That’s how it feels like. It’s a roller-coaster ride every day.

LMP:Is it still the same feeling until now?

ACY: Yes, it is still rough and tumble whether you are in national or local politics. I believe that the texture, color sound, sight, smell of politics in both levels is just the same. As they say, old politics is local anyway. (Laughs)

LMP:You are about to finish your first-term. The last time, you did not have any opponent because I believe Atty. Jala backed-out. Now, Leon Calipusan is already out. This first-term, what were the accomplishments that you have done for the 3rd District of Bohol?

ACY: I noticed when I was going around, many people they really wanted to know their Congressman more. My first-term was devoted to religiously meeting all the barangay communities. It is not uncommon that I have visited a barangay a number of times. I think, the mileage of my vehicle will show that because I bought that van brand-new when I won my first-term. My accomplishments are, number one, I stayed in close touch with the people, so I could know what projects to give to all of them. Of course, the consequence of visiting the barangays often means, they will also have direct access to you, and they will also ask projects from you. You have to be very careful about that, so that you would not disappoint them. What I did was, the entire priority development assistance that I got every year was divided equally to the barangays.

LMP:How many barangays are there in the entire 3rd District?

ACY: 436 barangays and 19 municipalities consistently got projects from me every year. There is no barangay today in my district that has not received a number of projects from me. But once you get in into the barangay, the people talk to you. It’s very simple, you just point to them, those are the projects that I gave and I have more. We were able to give scholarship grants to more than 1000 students and we are moving to make it into 2000. For medical assistance, we have given close to 7 million worth of funds.

LMP:In the forthcoming term what are your plans?

ACY: Last year, as preparatory to my running for the second-term, I commissioned a 1,500 respondent survey all over the 3rd District.

LMP:Your own survey? How did you do it, considering that if it is not thoroughlyand scientifically made it may suffer in its veracity?

ACY: Pulse Asia was the one who did the counting. I asked them about the result... about jobs, livelihood, prices of food... all economics.

LMP:What was the purpose of the survey?

ACY: I feel that in my second term, I would devote my priority development assistance into creating more jobs. When I was Secretary of Agriculture, I gave a lot of infrastructure funds to the entire Province of Bohol. In my first-term, I dedicated it all to infrastructure for the barangays. Now, on my second-term, I want it to be a report on how many people received the livelihood projects from me. I want to show that we build agricultural production clusters and bid them to the market for the farmers to be able to enjoy the better prices at the market place.

LMP:And the rationale for the move?

ACY: If we just give them animals for dispersal without providing them the value adding, slaughtering, the preparation, the point of seal access to the market, tourists, consumers, without that kind of linkage, that is just raw agricultural products. I always ask the farmers, “Do you want to stay in the business of humay, or do you want to venture into the business of bugas?” With humay, the price ranges from 17-18 pesos per kilo, while with bugas, the prices starts at 40 pesos per kilo. Why venture on business front with lots of risks, when they can have vegetables in 45 days, sell them at 25-30 pesos per kilo, and also for local consumption?

LMP:How about the national scene. As of now, you are in Congress. What’s the Chairmanship you have?

ACY: I am the Assistant Minority Floor Leader. I am a member of all committees. Of course, I’m giving most of my time to agricultural measures and consumer protection acts. I live a purpose-driven life. I want to serve, that’s why I am her.

LMP:You are meeting with a lot of people in your travels. I understand that you have traveled a lot. Like for example the ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng-Yong. Who is he?

ACY: He is a Singaporean and was former Secretary General of ASEAN. It was a very exciting time for ASEAN because we were integrating markets, the AFTA (ASEAN Free Trade Agreement). He was basically a very strong partner.

LMP:What is the status now of AFTA?

ACY: It’s in effect. By 2015, the quantitative restriction for rice, wherein countries put a volume to cut import and export of rice, will end. After 2015, rice will be tariffied, which means they will pay a certain tariff. Right now, there is quantitative restriction; that means there is a volume of rice that will be allowed to be imported. In the Philippines, that’s only about 350 to 450 metric tons. In 2015, there will be no volume cut. Any amount can come in and out of the country as long as there is tariff. Consumers will like that because it means lower prices for rice.

LMP:How about Dr. Klaus Schwab, the founder of WEF (World Economic Forum)?

ACY: He was a very interesting person. He is a German Economist who decided to put up the World Economic Forum. It is a forum where government and business can talk.

LMP:According to the news of the world’s richest people, most are from the States. Even Russia has it but lesser than Germany. How would you explain that? The Germans are well-known to be scientists, inventors, good in trade, and all that?

ACY: They are, I guess, less concentrated in business because their focus are more on development and innovation. They may not have the world’s richest people but I think, they have a very prosperous and the strongest economy in Europe.

LMP:You have met Khadaffi in 2009. How did he look.... and the way he talked?

ACY: When I met him his eyes brightened when he found out I was from the Philippines. Everybody knows that Khadaffi also helped us broker our peace agreement with our Muslim brothers. He loves the Philippines and I think it also has a lot to do with the fact that he admired the former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

LMP:How about Jacques Diouf?

ACY: He was the former head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Being an African, he believed that we could solve the world’s food problems by developing Africa. And that was really the truth, with the land mass and a lot of the toiling masses. We have read about their sufferings but the great potential is there that someday they would prosper.

LMP:Koffi Annan?

ACY: I also met Koffi Annan in Switzerland. He is patrician, a learned man, and very refined. He brought a lot of integrity to the post as UN Secretary General; but it was also good that the United Nations get one from Asia, the indefatigable Ban Ki-moon. Because Asia is the “now” of the world, having an Asian in the UN could bring our perspective into the other side of the globe. The 1800 was the European century, the 1900 for Americans, now it’s really the time for Asia. Some people are saying it’s a new regime but I am saying, “No, it is a return.”

LMP:Yes, I remember the United Nations with Carlos P. Romulo, once the President of the UN General Assembly. I heard you met the Thai Prime Minister. If you would like to compare the economy of Bangkok and the Philippines, how would you assess that?

ACY: Thailand has a stronger economy because they have very good fundamentals. They gave everything to agriculture and food production first, and then they went into infrastructure. First, they took care of feeding their people, and they focused next in building their roads, ports, power, so that industries could come in. So, when you got roads, cheap transportation and power, people can eat and industries can grow.

LMP:In Thailand, it seems as if, even if it’s supposed to be a free country, the King always has a say.

ACY: Because they revered their King like a god. It’s a constitutional monarchy. Like in England, the Prime Minister forms the government in the name of the Queen. In behalf of her Majesty’s government.

LMP:Do you believe that this would still go on?

ACY: Yes, and it will grow in years.

LMP:How about Bolkiah?

ACY: He is also revered very warmly by his people as the father of his entire nation.

LMP:Is he not a dictator?

ACY: I don’t feel that. I think, he holds them tightly but the people are contented. When I went around, I don’t see people begging in the streets. Brunei is a small country but they are very rich.

LMP:Let’s talk about Cory Aquino. How do you assess her as a leader?

ACY: Cory cannot be assessed on those terms. She is larger than that because she came at the time, when we needed to get ourselves from the crusades of the dictatorial government. She is an icon and the saint of democracy of our country.

It was unfortunate that the interview was interrupted because his father just planed in from Manila with an entourage he invited to see Bohol. When we shook hands, it was a mutual expression of gratitude for a brief time well-spent. I am still looking forward to another repartee with Congressman Arthur Yap. Easy to the ears, for his mastery to the King’s Language, he is an ideal when it comes to interviews, especially when indepthness is the main parameter. Assessing him as a technocrat of no mean caliber, who could talk about subjects akin to global amelination, is not enough to fathom his concern about progress. For, aside from the brain, that capacity to decipher the wrongness or righteousness of actions and motivations, this individual feels. He has a heart that throbs for the less privileged. But he just doesn’t stop there – he wants them to see the brighter side of life, and strive hard for the attainment of their goals. A second term as Representative of the Third District of Bohol is not enough... he should have a third term. or, perhaps, a seat in the Senate.

(Website: www.loypalapos.com; email: loy.pal@gmail.com; cellphone: 09498345957)