By DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – To smoothen a possible major obstacle in the revival of the Negros Island Region (NIR), Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson plans to visit his counterpart, Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo in Dumaguete City.
Last week, Degamo voiced a somewhat dissenting comment regarding NIR’s revival during a Regional Development Council meeting in Cebu City.
According to Lacson, reaching out to Degamo was suggested by Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) president and chief executive officer Frank Carbon.
Carbon said Degamo’s “cultural differences” reasoning with regards to NIR’s reestablishment was shallow. He noted that “80 percent” of mayors in both Negros Occidental and Oriental are supportive of the unification of both provinces into one region.
The proposed NIR, which will become Region VI-B once approved into law, would be composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor island-province.
The NIR was first established through an executive order issued by then-President Benigno Aquino III in 2015. But it was dissolved by his successor, then-President Rodrigo Duterte, in 2017 due to the high cost of maintaining the region./PN
