House removes Co as appropriations panel chair

The House of Representatives on Monday vacated the position of chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations, formerly occupied by Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

This developed after the House, during the resumption of session on Monday, approved the motion of Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos declaring the position as vacant.

Almost an hour after Marcos’ motion was approved in the plenary, Co said in a statement that he stepped down as House appropriations panel chair due to health reasons.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the majority in Congress for graciously accepting my decision to step down as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. This decision, made with a heavy heart, is driven by pressing health concerns. The highly demanding nature of my role has taken its toll, and I now need to prioritize seeking the medical attention necessary for my well-being,” Co said.

The lawmaker, however, also said he has “always served at the pleasure of the majority.”

“I am deeply honored to have been entrusted with the immense responsibility of steering the nation’s budget in service of the House of the people and the constituents we represent,” Co said.

“In the past three years, I take pride in our collective accomplishments, particularly the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), which provides critical support to those with income insufficient for their family needs. As the proud sponsor and shepherd of the budgets for 2023, 2024, and 2025, I ensured [that the budget is in] alignment with the President’s eight-point economic agenda,” he added.

In September, Vice President Sara Duterte accused Speaker Martin Romualdez and Co of “controlling” the national budget, so it would be futile to defend her office’s then proposed P2 billion budget for 2025. 

Both Romualdez and Co denied Duterte's allegations.

Earlier this month, Co reiterated his defense of the P26 billion Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) under the 2025 national budget by saying it is kickback-free and is intended for employed Filipinos who are low-income earners.

“This is zero percent corruption because it directly goes to the people. Members of Congress do not safekeep and control the release of this aid because it is the Department of Social Welfare which does that,” Co said in a January 8 statement, his last prior to his removal from the plum post.

In the same statement, Co said AKAP is a huge help for minimum-wage earners like food service crew and Grab drivers who are not qualified to avail of other government social safety net programs like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) which target the unemployed.

“They are the ones who work 16 hours. They are the ones who pay for PhilHealth. They are the ones who pay taxes. They are the ones who work double time, triple time, just to make [ends meet]. When they go home, they're tired. They can't take care of their children because they need to sleep and they need to work. So, it's a pity that the law is unfair to people who work but don’t earn enough,” he added.

AKAP, which was first funded under the 2024 national budget, includes medical, funeral, food, and cash assistance.

Based on government records, the AKAP program had five million beneficiaries during its first year of implementation. —AOL, GMA Integrated News