• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is willing to give the chairmanship of the Regional Development Council to Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, should the Negros Island Region be realized, disclosed Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday.
“We’re willing to give that. There’s no problem,” Lacson said in response to one of the demands of Degamo for “equal footing” under NIR.
Offering the RDC chairmanship was suggested by the Negros Occidental business sector during a meeting with Lacson.
The business sector of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces earlier expressed their full support to NIR, as they did during the initial operation of the new region in 2015.
“They can even be in history as the first RDC chairman, just to show them that Negros Occidental is here to help its members, so that all provinces under NIR will progress equally,” he stressed.
Regarding to the assignment of regional offices, Lacson recalled that the two provinces even came to an agreement, which offices will be based in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
The proposed NIR now includes Siquijor.
Having three provinces, we have to consider Siquijor also, Lacson added.
“I don’t think he (Degamo) would be throwing his weight around,” he further said.
“It’s more of us assuring both provinces, that we will have a fair share of development under the new region,” Lacson added.*
