BACOLOD City – Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. expressed confidence toward the revival of a unified Negros region after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the draft federal constitution on Monday.
The draft charter made by the 22-member Consultative Committee (ConCom) wants to distribute power among 18 political units in the country, including the “Negrosanon Federated Region (NFR).”
The NFR is among the 17 approved “symmetrical” federal regions under the draft, said ConCom spokesman Ding Generoso.
The other one is the “asymmetrical” region of Bangsamoro and Cordillera, which has a different design due to the “identity-based demands” in the areas.
According to Generoso, Duterte approved the draft “in toto,” except for a request to amend transitory provisions.
“It’s just the transitory provisions he wants changed. The rest in toto PRRD said he approves and will endorse,” Generoso said.
The draft will now go through scrutiny and possible revisions in Congress, which would act as a constituent assembly.
The draft will then be presented for ratification through a plebiscite.
While Congress may “add or delete something” in the draft, Marañon believes that it will leave the NFR “as is.”
Marañon and his Negros Oriental counterpart Roel Degamo support the creation of the NFR.
Former president Benigno Aquino III merged Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental through Executive Order (EO) 183 in 2015, making the Negros Island Region.
But last year, President Rodrigo Duterte revoked the EO.
Negros Occidental returned as part of Western Visayas (Region 6) while Negros Oriental, as part of Central Visayas (Region 7)./PN
