THE BREWING talk of coffee drinkers recently was the proposed formation of the Negros Island Region or NIR. It was a good matter to tackle because the discussants were friends from Dumaguete, Negros Occidental and from Panay Island or Iloilo.
***
“It seems that the NIR movers in the political arena lacked consultations with the residents of Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Panay Island. Of course, most affected are the Negros residents,” the businessman from Dumaguete said. “Have these political proponents realized the effects of their plan as far as the residents are concerned?”
***
“We have a similar feeling because we come from Negros Occidental which has only land travel as means to reach Negros Oriental. It takes us around five hours to take reach Dumaguete from Bacolod. It takes less than two hours of comfortable sailing to Iloilo by ferry or roro. These politicians do not feel the pinch of tiring travel since they ride in luxurious vans,” said the Negrense engineer.
***
“What really are the benefits to local residents if Oriental and Occidental are bonded together? We heard event Siquijor would be part of the NIR. What will be left of Cebu then?” murmured the Cebuano golfer.
“Negros Oriental governor seems alone in not favoring the Oriental-Occidental marriage. He cites differences in culture and distance of travel as reasons for his opposition,” said the businessman.
***
“The Oriental Governor has a point. The NegOrenses communicate in the Cebuano dialect while the Occidental breed speaks in Hiligaynon. That makes a strong point for opposing the one region plan,” pointed out the retired Chinaman.
“Imagine the travel factor. For example, the regional office of a department is based in Dumaguete City. Those from the Occidental side have to travel by Ceres bus for five hours or drive his car and spend thousands for gasoline.
When he reaches the regional office, the officer is on sick leave; the poor guy has to travel back home for five hours again. What a miserable trip. What can politicians do to help?” the golfer said with dismay.
***
“Yes my friend, I agree with you. If you are from Bacolod or nearby areas and you need to visit a regional office in Iloilo, travelling is more comfortable on board a fast craft. If you travel from Bacolod to Dumaguete, even in an air-conditioned bus or car, it is going to be a bumpy ride for five hours,” quipped the engineer.
***
“We could not really understand the need for uniting Oriental and Occidental. We are asking politicians to create a sort of referendum among the residents of Occidental and Oriental,” said the businessman.
***
This column greets the following on their birthdays – Blimp delos Reyes (Dec. 22); Mini Jimenez (Dec. 23); EJ Velez (Dec. 23); Junjun Martir (Dec. 25); McRay Ortaliz (Dec. 27); Juan Locsin (Dec. 27); Cris Constantino (Dec. 28). Happy Holidays to all PN readers./PN
