DAGUPAN CITY — Twenty-two-year-old Arth Bryan Celeste of Alaminos City, the newly elected Liga ng mga Barangay Federation (LnB) provincial president in Pangasinan, has vowed to focus the group's agenda on livelihood for the people, environment and the youth.
“Since I am a graduate of a business course, I would want to share what I have learned to the people of Pangasinan,” Celeste said in an interview Monday.
“Second would be the cleanliness of our province. We should take care of our environment most especially that we have tourism cities like my home town Alaminos where the Hundred Islands is situated. We shouldn't take the environment for granted as without it, humanity will cease to exist. Lastly, I would like to focus also on the youth as we know that we are the future of this country,” Celeste said.
He also expressed his full support to the campaign against illegal drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte, although he pointed out that he does not agree on the proposed arming of barangay captains.
“I am against violence, as we have seen the effect of loose policy on gun ownership in some countries leading to prevalent mass shooting incidents. We do not know the temper of some barangay captains, they might end up committing accidents with the gun,” Celeste said.
He believed that age is just a number; hence he assured that his young age will not be a hindrance to leading the 47 barangay captains of the province and representing them in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).
Celeste won the LnB provincial chapter election held on Monday at the Dagupan Village Hotel here against Jean Jinky Zaplan of Sta. Barbara.
“Celeste got 25 votes against the 21 votes for Zaplan, from the 46 LnB presidents of the towns and cities of the province,” said Agnes De Leon, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Pangasinan, in an interview on Monday.
Pangasinan has a total of 48 towns and cities. However, the LnB president of San Carlos City did not attend the election, while Dagupan City is a chartered city and not part of the election, said De Leon.
She added that the election result will be transmitted to the SP and to the National LnB until August 3. (PNA)
