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Lacson holds off NIR discussion until after Degamo laid to rest

Governors Roel Degamo and Eugenio Jose Lacson met in Dumaguete City last month.*

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is holding off discussing the Negros Island Region (NIR) until slain Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo is laid to rest.

Degamo was against the creation of the NIR, which will be composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

Lacson was set to meet with Degamo for a second time to discuss the NIR, but he was assassinated in Pamplona on March 4.

“Can we talk about NIR after Gov. Degamo has been laid to his eternal rest… Let’s put Governor Degamo to rest and then we will start again,” Lacson said.

Lacson, who said Degamo was a friend, visited his wake at his home in Dumaguete City on Tuesday.

The House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 7355 creating the NIR on third and final reading on Monday, March 6, and it is now up to the Senate to deliberate on its counterpart measure.

Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Senate Committee on Local Government chair, told DIGICAST NEGROS on Thursday that another hearing on the Senate counterpart measure will be held.

“The first Committee hearing is already done but since there was an opposition from the late Gov. (Roel) Degamo of Negros Oriental, I purposely delayed the next hearing so that both provincial governors could resolve issues and reach an agreement,” he said.

Ejercito said he had to respect the position of Negros Oriental.

“Let’s give it time out of respect for the late Gov. Degamo first. We’ll call another hearing to hear the positions of the two provinces to be fair,” he added.*

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