- GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Stressing that the Negros Island has a special place in her heart, Senator Imee Marcos has vowed to work on “what is good for Negros”.
Marcos made the declaration to clarify news reports that she is “not keen” on the move to revive the Negros Island creation.
In a statement, the presidential sister and senator, said “I never said I was not keen on NIR. Rather, I said it requires further updated study because no new data has been presented to the Senate yet, despite moves to revive interest on the creation of the NIR.”
She also clarified that she is very much aware of the issues confronting the NIR passage then because both governors of the Negros provinces – the late Alfredo Maranon Jr. and Roel Degamo, had presented the matter to her when they were together in the League of Governors.
“The late Governor Degamo raised the issue of economics because Negros Occidental was less reliant on the region where it belongs, compared to Negros Oriental, which had to rely much on Cebu to spur their local economy,” Marcos added.
That was the reason, according to Marcos, why she is asking for updated data on such concerns because “we need to convince the economic managers that putting NIR back on the map is actually viable, considering the circumstances at the moment.”
“I understand though that both leaders of the two Negros provinces now are agreeable to pursue NIR and have come to terms on how to go about this, then whatever is the will of the people of Negros Island, I will personally support,” Marcos stressed.
“At the end of the day, we are servants of the people and we will work on what the people want and what works for them best,” she added.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday that the creation of the Negros Island Region “should not be based on its cost”.
“If that’s the basis, we will never have a chance,” he stressed.
Lacson also cited the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which he said cost “a lot of money also”.
The proposed establishment of the NIR also includes the Siquijor island province.
The Senate Committee on Local Government, chaired by Senator JV Ejercito, is now deliberating on the proposal, after it was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives middle of this year.
“I am hoping that with the help of those who committed to help, especially the senators, (we will) finally see the light of having (the) NIR,” Lacson said.
Lacson yesterday thanked Senator Imee for clarifying her stand on NIR./GB
