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BY JOHNNY NOVERA
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Welcome Negros Occidental
ON AUG. 7, 2017 President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued Executive Order No. 38 which reverted the province of Negros Occidental to Western Visayas (Region 6) and likewise with Negros Oriental to Eastern Visayas (Region 7).
EO No. 38 effectively dissolves NIR or the New Island Region composed of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental as created previously by Executive Order No.183 issued in 2015 by then President Benigno Aquino III.
The reason for the dissolution was that “the establishment of regional offices of departments and agencies in the NIR requires substantial appropriation to be fully operational, thus competing with government priority programs and projects for funding,” the order stated.
We are happy to be confirmed of our stand as reflected in the columns we have written on this issue of Negros Occidental separating from Western Visayas to form a new region with Negros Oriental.
It is not wise to break history and disregard a century-and-a-half of economic and social ties between Iloilo and Negros Occidental. The pioneers in building what is now Negros Occidental as a top sugar-producing province were Ilonggos. In fact, there was a time when many of them kept homes in Iloilo even if they maintain sugar farms in Negros Occidental.
The re-actions of both governors Alfredo Marañon Jr. of Negros Occidental and Roel Degamo of Negros Oriental to this development are commendable. They vowed to continue working together, notwithstanding the separate regions, hence the programs that they have jointly started will continue, with Dumaguete City’s Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo likewise supporting the move.
We remember that Governor Marañon was the chairman of the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region 6 starting Sept. 26, 2014 but cut short his term because of this proposal for Negros Occidental to separate from the region.
Now that Negros Occidental is back to Region 6, we wish that Governor Marañon will work again with RDC and pursue his previous advocacies for the region.
We remember his program as RDC chair to work 1) for a stronger promotion of tourism in Region 6, 2) develop our agriculture, and 3) the business process outsourcing industry.
He also announced his support of the plan to connect Iloilo and Negros Occidental with a bridge for a faster and more convenient movement of people and products between the two provinces as economic partners for many decades. In this connection, Governor Marañon will be pleased that this project may soon become a reality with China’s promised support given to our President recently to build the bridge.
With Negros Occidental back to Region 6, we can now proudly announce Western Visayas as one of the most attractive business and tourism destinations in the country, given its two attractive tourist islands like Boracay in Aklan province and Guimaras just across Iloilo Strait.
And also consider the following transport facilities: We are the only region in the country with four airports of international standards: 1) Bacolod Silay International Airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental; 2) the Iloilo Airport in Barangay Tiring, Cabatuan, Iloilo; 3) Kalibo International Airport in Kalibo, Aklan; and 4) Caticlan International Airport just across Boracay Resort Island, plus one more airport in Roxas City serving domestic flights.
By sea travel, we have two seaports for international vessels – that in Iloilo and Pulupandan seaport near Bacolod.
Known for its many food delicacies and natural tourists attractions, Region 6 is whole again with Negros Occidental back to its fold!
GUIMARAS MANGOES
On a visit to Guimaras last weekend, we came upon a restaurant at the town center in Alibhon that utilizes the well-known Guimaras mangoes as ingredient for practically all its menus. For lunch, we had bulalo with ripe mango soup and a slice of ripe mango fruit on top, and for dessert it is again a slice taken from a large mango pizza pie. We noted from its big menu card that practically all food preparations in the restaurant have mango-based ingredients from Guimaras.
Although established only recently, we understand that it has fast expanded to three outlets in Guimaras, one in Iloilo City and now three in Cebu City. The outlets in Iloilo and Cebu cities are operated by franchisees, but we were told of the special condition that only Guimaras mangoes may be used for the fruit ingredients used in the menus. (For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com/PN)
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