• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has approved the request of Negros Oriental to host the regional offices of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Elections under the Negros Island Region (NIR).
“I immediately said yes to their request,” Lacson said, while he did not ask the reasons for such preference.
In return, Negros Occidental will get the regional offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Health (DOH).
Lacson said the province’s health officials were elated to know that the regional DOH office will be based in Negros Occidental.
During a meeting between Lacson, Negros Oriental Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria and Siquijor Governor Jake Vincent Villa, which was also attended by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, among others, it was agreed by both provinces, as well as Siquijor, to adopt the previous NIR set up of the regional offices.
While it appears that there is a delay in the realization of the NIR, Lacson said, “we just have to remain positive”.
He said there is a big chance that it will be approved because of the agreement of the concerned provinces.
“We remain hopeful,” he added.
After it was approved by the House of Representatives earlier this year, the NIR bill is now pending for deliberations at the Senate committee on local government chaired by Ejercito.
Lacson acknowledged that there could be hesitancy on the part of the finance sector, especially the DBM.
“(But) if the government can invest in BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao), putting in a lot of money, I think they can also do the same for Negros Island Region,” he said. | GB
