House appropriations panel head steps down
The House of Representatives declared vacant on Monday the chairmanship of its appropriations committee after Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co stepped down citing health concerns.
In a statement, Co thanked majority bloc lawmakers for giving him the “extraordinary privilege to serve” and for accepting his decision, which he said was “made with a heavy heart.”
“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.
He considered as highlights of his service his having secured funding for government initiatives in health, housing and food security.
“In the past three years, I take pride in our collective accomplishments, particularly the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program, which provide critical support to those with income insufficient for their family needs,” Co said.
‘Pleasure of majority’
The lawmaker also cited his role as “the proud sponsor and shepherd of the budgets for 2023, 2024 and 2025, [for which] I ensured [their] alignment with the President’s eight-point economic agenda.”
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos moved to declare Co’s position vacant at Monday’s plenary session, the first after Congress went into a break for the holidays. Marcos’ motion was approved with no objection.
Co said “I have 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.”
