Are 10 years of consultations not enough time?
That was the reaction of Rep. Manuel Sagarbarria (Neg. Or., 2nd District) on Thursday, April 11, to the Diocese of Dumaguete’s call for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to veto Senate Bill No. 2507 seeking the creation of the Negros Island Region for “grave lack of fair, just and truthful consultation”.
Marcos, who was in Bacolod Monday, said he is signing the bill creating the NIR into law to unify the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor into one administrative region.
Sagarbarria said the veto call by the Diocese of Dumaguete led by Bishop Julito Cortes is their prerogative.
“This (NIR push) has been going on for the longest time, 10 years or more. Is that not enough time for consultation?” he asked.
“We will wait for what the President has to say on this,” Sagarbarria, who is a co-author of the bill seeking the creation of the NIR, also said.
“It should be noted that NIR already existed during the Aquino administration,” he also pointed out.
Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito told DIGICAST NEGROS “the intent of the NIR bill is to make things more convenient and further spur economic development in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. I am hoping that the Diocese would appreciate the rationale of creating the Negros Island Region”.
Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District) said “I think the NIR will be more beneficial for our brothers in the Oriental side. We felt that when Pres. Aquino issued the E.O. and we have been talking about the one island region for decades already”.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said despite the Diocese of Dumaguete’s position, there are also many supporters of the NIR who will try to convince the president that it is feasible to create this new region.
“For as long as the law is not signed we cannot be sure, but I think the statement of president during his recent visit is very clear. He is more or less convinced that the creation of the NIR will be to the advantage of the three provinces,” Lacson said.
The only concern of the president is the funding for the new region and he wants to make sure that is covered, Lacson said.
San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo said NIR is very advantageous to Negrosanons, including those from Negros Oriental.
The Church should not interfere and let the politicians do their work and decide what is advantageous to the people, he added.*