• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A meeting between Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo is now being scheduled to discuss the proposed creation of Negros Island Region, which includes Siquijor.
Lacson supports NIR creation, while Degamo expressed his opposition to the unification of two Negros provinces into a region.
Degamo claimed that NIR is not “developmentally beneficial” to Negros Oriental, stressing that his province is enjoy a stable economy under Region 7.
He also said that NIR will cost the national government P35 billion for infrastructures and staffing.
Lacson said that Gov. Degamo is willing to sit down with him to discuss the NIR creation.
As to the date, he said he already instructed Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz to coordinate the Provincial Information Office of Negros Oriental.
All the Negros Island solons co-authored a bill creating NIR, which is also supported by five senators, including Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri, as well as by Siquijor Rep. Zaldy Villa and Gov. Jake Vincent Villa.
The NIR was first established through an executive order issued by the late President Benigno Aquino III in 2015. It was however dissolved in 2017 by his successor, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer disclosed on Tuesday that the opposition of Gov. Degamo to NIR may have to do with local politics.
His political rival, Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnie Teves, are co-authors of the NIR bill.
The brother of Teves, Henry Pryde, stepped down as Negros Oriental governor, after his proclamation was annulled by the Commission on Elections, several months after the May 2022 elections.*
