THE creation of Negros Island Region (NIR) has brought growth and development to its two provinces.
This was stressed by Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. as he cited the 2015 Annual Financial Report for Local Government Units of the Commission on Audit (COA).
The report said that Negros Occidental is the third richest province in the country while Negros Oriental is fifth.
The same report also showed that among the 18 regions in the country, the newly-created NIR was the fifth richest region.
Marañon said these are “good points” to raise during the House committee hearing on November 8, which is expected to answer contentious issues about NIR.
He added that directors of regional line agencies assigned in NIR said that the achievements and the work they have done in such a short time are beyond their expectations.
“Ano pa gid ayhan if ma-continue kay sugod pa lang ni? Starting point pa lang, galupok na agi, (How much more if NIR will continue? It’s just a starting point, but it’s already on fire),” the governor said.
“As a region, we’re the fifth richest. Why would they want to abolish us if we are number five?” he asked.
The governor added that NIR shouldn’t be abolished as it can stand on its own, adding that the young region has not even reached its first year of operations.
The governor said he is hoping that President Rodrigo Duterte would heed the appeal of the Negrenses.
“I hope he understands what we are asking. This is what the people in the island want, which is almost five million. If we have a referendum, 90 percent of the people here will support this,” he said.
He added that local officials were unanimous in supporting the retention of NIR during the forum attended by Interior Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo Jr. on October 24.
Earlier, officials of NIR led by Marañon and Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo signed a manifesto asking Duterte to save the region, as they appealed to him not to sign the executive order abolishing Negros Island.
Meanwhile, Marañon said there’s no need to wear black for the signing of manifesto to save NIR during the Cinco de Noviembre celebration today at the Provincial Capitol grounds.
“Come and sign in any attire except the Igorot attire,” he quipped.
Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno, who vowed support for NIR, said the Cabinet will tackle issues concerning the region in their next meeting.
During the Cabinet meeting held the other night, Sueno said they decided that he “will discuss it first in a cluster meeting, which I will call this November.”
“And include it in the agenda for the Cabinet meeting in December,” he added.
Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV had earlier expressed support on the continued existence of NIR.
Former president Benigno Aquino III signed the EO creating NIR on May 29, 2015, separating Negros Occidental from Western Visayas and Negros Oriental from Central Visayas.
Welcome development
Meanwhile, Marañon welcomed the $1-billion bridge project connecting the four islands in the Visayas, which is expected to be completed within the term of Duterte.
He said that he is very happy that the administration is putting up the Iloilo-Guimaras-Negros-Cebu Link Bridge because “that has been our dream.”
“This is one of the projects we’re aspiring for since the previous administrations, since the term of former president Joseph Estrada,” the governor said.