- GILBERT P. BAYORAN
With the imminent creation of the Negros Island Region, the Diocese of Dumaguete in Negros Oriental is making a last ditch effort to prevent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from signing the NIR bill into law.
In a letter to President Marcos, Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes claimed that the NIR bill was done without fair, just, and truthful consultation.
Bishop Cortes said the intention of the NIR bill remains “unclear” to the general public.
“It is with heavy heart that we must implore Your Excellency to consider vetoing it,” the bishops stated in his letter to the president.
Cortes explained that their plea is not born of mere dissent, but rather from a sense of duty to safeguard the future of Negros Oriental.
“Regrettably, the passage of this bill has been marred by a lack of comprehensive information dissemination, and meaningful consultation with the diverse sectors and stakeholders of Negros Oriental,” the bishop said.
As custodians of democracy, it is the people’s inherent right to be fully informed and actively engaged in decisions of such magnitude, for they shape the trajectory of our collective destiny, he stressed.
The three Negros Oriental solons co-authored the NIR bill in the House of Representatives, that was also supported by Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, eight Negros Occidental solons, including Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, among others.
In his recent visit to Negros Occidental, President Marcos has vowed to sign into law the Negros Island Region Act to enhance governance and growth.
“I think, it (NIR) makes sense because it’s very difficult for Oriental to be, and be serviced in a regional center. So, kailangan talagang maayos ‘yan. Matagal nang problema ‘yan. Until we can consolidate, I can put it all together properly, and right now hindi pa ganun,” Marcos said.
Without such legislation, it would be difficult to bring government services to the people, the President added.
Meanwhile Cores appealed to the president “to recognize the gravity of this situation and to allow us to engage in informed discourse regarding the merits and implications of NIR, rooted in empirical studies”.
The bishop further claimed that the creation of NIR threatens to exacerbate existing inequalities, as Negros Oriental finds itself disadvantaged by its fewer districts and cities, compared to Negros Occidental.
This asymmetry in representation and resource allocation, he added, could perpetuate systemic injustices, further marginalizing vulnerable communities, Cortes added.
Citing a 2014 survey conducted by the Silliman University, Cortes said it underscores the prevalent lack of awareness and mixed sentiments regarding the proposed merger, adding that the findings revealed that 43.34 percent of the respondents opposed the NIR initiative, and those who supported it are even lesser in number at 25.83 percent, while 30.83 percent are undecided.
“This palpable apprehension underscores the imperative for a thorough deliberation and inclusive decision making processes,” Cortes said.
Additionally, we raise the perplexing inclusion of Siquijor province in the NIR, despite its distinct identity, language and geographical separation from Negros. The omission of proper consultation with the people of Siquijor further compounds the legitimacy of this endeavor,” the bishop said, adding that the expressed sentiment is shared by all priests in the entire island of Siquijor.
Siquijor Gov. Jake Vincent Villa and Rep. Zaldy Villa earlier expressed their support to NIR. | GB
