LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — A 22-year-old freshman law student at the University of Sto. Tomas from Bautista town was elected unopposed as Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation president of Pangasinan here Monday.
New SK Federation president Jerome Vic Espino obtained 47 votes, including from himself, in the election held on Monday in this town, headed by the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Commission on Elections in Pangasinan.
Espino is the cousin of incumbent Governor Amado Espino III and nephew of Congressman Amado Espino Jr. His father is Victor Espino, who was a former Liga ng mga Barangay President, while his mother is an administrative officer of the Bautista municipal government.
“I thank my colleagues for voting for me. I know that they recognized and trusted our family because they know that we are hard workers and are dignified in the name of public service,” he said in an interview on Tuesday.
Espino admitted he is also nervous because of “the heavy responsibility and expectation” that comes along with his position.
“Governor Espino told me not to thank him, but rather to work hard and do my best,” he said.
Sports, education and most importantly the fight against illegal drugs, are the priorities of Espino when he finally assumes his post on June 30.
“We wanted to work on the prevention side of the campaign against illegal drugs because this is what our President Rodrigo Duterte aims: for our country to be drug-free. Also, even without SK, the provincial government did not neglect the needs of our youth, so we will align our programs and projects to its existing activities,” he added.
Espino further said he will be consulting the members of the federation for the programs and projects they wanted to implement in their respective districts.
“I will listen to their suggestions because that is also my job, to listen to the youth’s needs through their SK president,” he added.
Espino also assured his constituents that he would prioritize his task as a public servant over his studies.
“If I were to choose between my studies and my position, I would prioritize the people, for they have trusted me, so I should not neglect my job, as advised by Governor Espino,” he said.
Espino will also sits as ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Other elected officials of the SK Federation in Pangasinan are: Andrea Cruz of Mangatarem (Vice President); Loverly Bernabe of Alaminos City (Secretary); Vanessa Zulueta of Calasiao (Treasurer); Jomar Fabros of Sison (Auditor); Rand Opena of Rosales (Public Relations Officer); Jan Versoza of Dasol and Ronnel Tucay of San Jacinto (Sergeant at Arms). (Hilda Austria/PNA)
