• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo yesterday said he is hoping that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign Negros Island Region bill before May 20, in time for his visit to Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental.
Unfazed by opposition to the bill, Remollo declared that Dumaguete City is ready for NIR, stressing that they have already reserved a government center, which will be offered free, for government agencies to build offices.
He stressed that the concerns raised by the Diocese of Dumaguete, in opposing the NIR, “had long been addressed.”
On questions that the NIR lacked consultation, Remollo said it was already implemented before through an Executive Order.
NIR was created through an EO during the term of late President Benigno Aquino III, but was revoked by former President Rodrigo Duterte, with any consultations too, the Dumaguete City mayor also said.
Remollo said that the NIR should push through, as it is already “long overdue,” adding that “it is the clamor of the people in Negros to push for development.”
“Even Siquijor wants to join us,” he added.
Noting also that the regional offices of Region 7 are in Cebu, while under NIR, Remollo said half of the regional offices will be in Dumaguete City.
“Cebu officials are fighting. We may be caught in the crossfire,” he pointed out.
As for claims of cultural differences, he replied “what’s the difference? All of us are Filipinos.” “We bridge that gap, rather than separate us. We’re the same. It’s just the language,” Remollo further stressed.*
