Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is proposing to make it a condition for Negrense officials to only consider supporting a presidential candidate if the revival of the Negros Island Region (NIR) is included in his or her platform of government.
If a candidate does not agree to revive the NIR, we will campaign against that person, Ferrer said.
Lacson and Ferrer aired their positions on the NIR at a press conference with Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri in Bacolod City on Saturday.
So far presidential candidate Leni Robredo has said that she will push for the revival of the NIR, while Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is also running for president said he will, support its restoration if the people want it.
The other presidential candidates have yet to air their positions.
Zubiri said he has filed a bill seeking the restoration of the NIR that is pending in the Senate because it does not have the support of the executive department.
It is important that the NIR is created through a law so it cannot be abolished, Zubiri said.
Hopefully, the next administration will agree to the passage of a law creating the NIR, he said.
The NIR, composed of Negros Occidental and Oriental existed from May 29, 2015 to August 9, 2017. It was created by virtue of an executive order issued by then president Benigno Aquino III and was abolished by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Zubiri said he was very disappointed when the EO creating the NIR was repealed.
Lacson said it is important that people vote in the 2022 polls even if the COVID-19 pandemic remains.
Lacson and Ferrer raised Zubiri’s hands at the press conference in a show of support for his re-election bid.
Zubiri said officials of Negros and Panay have announced their support for him.
On Saturday, Zubiri turned over 400 cube tents to Negros Occidental for its evacuation centers in times of calamities.*