Whoever the governor of Negros Oriental is will not affect the push for the creation of the Negros Island Region, two officials said.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) were reacting to the Commission on Elections proclamation of Roel Degamo as governor of Negros Oriental on Monday.
The Comelec en banc also nullified the May proclamation of Pryde Henry Teves as governor of Negros Oriental.
Degamo has supported the creation of the NIR in the past, and Teves is also in favor of it, Lacson said on Tuesday, October 4.
“We are ready to work with whoever is governor of Negros Oriental,” Lacson said.
Benitez said Degamo has supported the NIR before, he does not expect him to reject it now.
Congress is waiting for the policy papers of the various governors on the creation of the NIR, Benitez said.
Benitez does not expect resistance from Panay and Cebu officials.
The biggest hurdle NIR will face is the budgetary question for its creation, and how to implement it over time, which should be rationally addressed, Benitez said.*