The three Negros Oriental representatives on Wednesday, December 7, said they will continue to push for the creation of the Negros Island Region despite opposition from Gov. Roel Degamo.
Negros Oriental representatives Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong – 1st District, Manuel Sagarbarria – 2nd District and Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. – 3rd District are co-authors of House Bill 1446 that seeks to create Region VI B along with all the representatives of Negros Occidental.
The proposed Region VI B will be composed of Negros Occidental and Oriental, and Siquijor.
Negros Oriental and Siquijor are currently part of Region 7, while Negros Occidental belongs to Region 6.
Degamo cited language and cultural differences among the reasons for his opposition to the NIR.
Limkaichong said it is sad that Degamo is not supportive of the bill, when the purpose of consolidating the two Negros provinces is really for the benefit of the Negrenses.
“As a congresswoman, my mandate is really to the people. I am their representative, and there is really a strong clamor for the NIR from my constituents,” she said.
Aside from bringing various government services closer to the people in our provinces, the NIR will really translate to greater employment opportunities for Negrenses, Limkaichong said.
“They will no longer have to travel to Iloilo City or Cebu City, because the regional offices will be located in our provinces. As we bring national government services closer, we create jobs that will be available for our people,” she said.
Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen the autonomy of the LGUs, and to accelerate economic and social development in both provinces, she added.
“We are hopeful that Governor (Degamo) will see the wisdom of this bill, and that this will be for the best interest of the people of Negros,” she added.
Teves said Degamo is not a lawmaker, whatever he says will have no bearing.
“The NIR will be crafted by a law,” Teves pointed out.
Negros Oriental and Occidental want the NIR, maybe Degamo is opposing it because of lack of understanding, Teves said.
Sagarbarria said Degamo’s opposition to the NIR is “his prerogative but most of the congressmen in the island of Negros are working very hard through legislation for the creation of the Negros Island Region.”
“We believe it can bring more progress to the island, especially because we’re working as one…and it is better for everyone,” he said.
“That is his prerogative, he may have his own reasons, we also have our own reasons so let us respect each other,” he added.
Sagarbarria said in the 1st District and in Dumaguete City where he lives, the NIR has the support of the different institutions.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who is supporting the creation of the NIR, said Degamo’s opposition “is not good news but we’ll see, we already have senators who really pushed for the NIR and we will continue to support that stand.”
Lacson said they can reach out to Degamo and find out what may change his mind.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has also submitted his position paper to Congress in support of the NIR.
Benitez said his alternative to the NIR in the meantime is the creation of a Region 6 sub-region where all national government agencies will set up offices in Bacolod to serve the needs of the people of the city and Negros Occidental.
It is up to Negros Oriental to decide whether it wants a sub-region, he said.
Benitez said he and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. will present the proposal to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Degamo could not be reached for comment.
Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, Senate Committee on Local Government chairman, on Monday said that they approved five bills seeking to establish the NIR, which will include the provinces of Negros Occidental and Oriental.
Several bills filed by the representatives of Negros Island and Siquijor seeking the creation of the NIR are also pending before the House Committee on Local Government.
Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) is co-chair of the Technical Working Group tasked with consolidating the NIR bills in the Lower House.
The TWG has asked Degamo to submit his position paper on the NIR twice in October and November, but as of Tuesday they had not received a reply from him, Alvarez said.
She does not know what the position of Degamo is yet, she said.
All the representatives of Negros Island are authors of the bills seeking the revival of the NIR, she added.
In 2015, President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 183 creating the NIR that effectively brought government services closer to the residents of Negros Island. However, in 2017 the NIR was abolished by President Rodrigo Duterte who deemed it too costly an undertaking, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said.
Zubiri, who is one of the authors of a Senate bill seeking the creation of the NIR, said “I don’t think it’s going to cost us more to revive the NIR.”*