A MONTH after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the dissolution of the Negros Island Region (NIR), the Province of Negros Occidental rejoins the Regional Development Council (RDC)-Western Visayas.
On Friday, September 8, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. will lead officials from Negros Occidental in attending the RDC-Western Visayas third quarter meeting in Kalibo, Aklan.
The governor will be joined by Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, the mayors of the province’s 12 component cities, and Pontevedra Mayor Jose Benito Alonso, president of the League of Municipalities of Philippines-Negros Occidental.
The newly-elected five private sector representatives (PSRs) of Negros Occidental will also attend.
The sectoral representatives are Frank Carbon (Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Visayas and Negros Occidental regional governor), for infrastructure development committee; Christina Marie Gaston (Association of Negros Producers president), for economic development committee; Fr. Dionisio Nacario (Diocese of San Carlos Social Action Center director), for development administration committee; and Adelaida Rendon (Negros Occidental Drug Rehabilitation Center vice president), for social development committee.
Edgardo Uychiat (Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation Inc. president) was selected geographic private sector representative.
Nacario was also named PSR to the Regional Project Monitoring Committee.
The three nominees for the Regional Land Use Committee were Lawrence Ledesma of Katuwang Resource Center, Lisa Paguntalan of Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. and Rose Depra of Negros Economic Development Foundation Inc.
On August 7, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 38, revoking the creation of NIR for lack of funds.
Former president Benigno Simeon Aquino III signed EO No. 183 on May 29, 2015 that created the NIR, separating Negros Occidental from Western Visayas and Negros Oriental from Central Visayas to form a one-island region. (with reports from MPE)