BY EUGENE Y. ADIONG
BACOLOD City – Proponents of the One Negros Island Region wants the regional center to be at the Kabankalan City – Mabinay border.
The area is considered to be the island’s “geographical center” as it is accessible to both Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
Kabankalan City’s Mayor Isidro Zayco said he has long pushed for the regional center to be established inside the 4,000-hectare property where the Central Philippine State University is located.
“Buildings for national agencies can be constructed along the highway so that people will have easy access without going inside the school campus,” Zayco said.
He, however, admitted to being cautious with such proposal.
Those from the Oriental side are “sensitive” to these matters for fear that the Hiligaynon side of the island will dominate them, the mayor pointed out.
Negros Oriental’s Vice Gov. Edward Mark Macias expressed the same concern.
Some sectors may perceive it to a move “from one implied master to another,” Macias said.
The number of local government units in Negros Occidental that have issued resolutions supporting the initiative rose from 27 to 29.
They were Talisay City, Cadiz City, Valladolid, Manapla, Sipalay City, Candoni, Silay City, Kabankalan City, Isabela, Bacolod City, Hinobaan, La Carlota City, Calatrava, EB Magalona, Moises Padilla, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, San Enrique, Bago City, Escalante City, Sagay City, San Carlos City, Victorias City, Ilog, Murcia, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Don Salvador Benedicto and Toboso.
Earlier, both Negros Occidental and Oriental provinces as well as the League of Municipalities- Negros Occidental Chapter passed resolutions supporting it.
Macias vowed to submit all resolutions of support from the Oriental side by the end of the month.
Meanwhile, Department of Interior and Local Government regional director Anthony Nuyda who attended a summit in Kabankalan City advancing the One Negros Island Region proposal said he was impressed by the participants’ enthusiasm.
The inputs he got from the summit, he said, will be submitted to Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas who, in turn, will make recommendations to President Benigno Aquino III./PN
