- GILBERT BAYORAN
The island province of Siquijor is included in the Negros Island Region bill approved by the Technical Working Group of the House Committee on Local Government, during its meeting Dec. 13, said 5th District Rep. Emilio “Dino” Yulo III.
Yulo, who co-authored the NIR bill, yesterday said that the TWG will again convene, together with Siquijor officials, for a final report in preparation for the formulation of a substitution bill that will be presented to the plenary.
The TWG was tasked by the committee, chaired by Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian, to consolidate all the bills pushing for the creation of NIR, with Negros Occidental 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez as co-chairperson.
Yulo said the entry of Siquijor to the proposed NIR was manifested by its lone district representative, Zaldy Villa, by way of a motion, during the TWG meeting.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and four other senators also co-authored a bill for the establishment of NIR, which was also recently approved by the Senate Committee on Local Government.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, however, expressed his opposition to the creation of NIR during a recent meeting of the Regional Development Council 7, citing cultural differences, among others.
“Why fix an already fixed thing?” Degamo asked, stressing that Negros Oriental’s economy, as a province under Region 7, is stable.
He said it is a gamble for Negros Oriental to place itself under Region 18.
On the other hand, three Negros Oriental solons have joined their counterparts in Negros Occidental in pushing for the creation of the NIR, by filing HB 1446 to create a new region in the Visayas.
Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez said that reunifying the two Negros provinces under one region is necessary for economic growth, that will redound to the benefit of the people through the close economic coordination of the two provinces.
Benitez added that the inclusion of Siqujor, which is supported by its governor, Jake Vincent Villa, is logical and practical due to its proximity and cultural similarities.
“The dream of consolidating the two Negros provinces into one administrative region continues to live on. This is a Negrense aspiration deeply grounded in our histories,” Benitez said.
Yulo said they respect the views of Degamo, or whatever concerns he has.
“We would like to reach out to him, so that we will know his concerns,” Yulo said, adding that the TWG has yet to receive a formal notice from Degamo on his stand on NIR, except from a public statement he made during the RDC 7 meeting.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed yesterday said that he is planning to meet with Degamo after the holidays, either first or second week next month./GB
