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[av_heading heading=’Bam, Migz vs Negros Region abolition ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY TIFFANY ANNE TAN
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BACOLOD City – Senators Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV and Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri oppose the abolition of Negros Island Region (NIR).
They believe keeping NIR will better address social issues in the island and pave the way for “focused” development plans.
President Rodrigo Duterte might sign the executive order (EO) dissolving the NIR upon his return from a state visit in China, the Palace had said.
Revoking EO No. 183 which created the NIR is a “rash move,” said Aquino, who graced the opening of the Electric MassKara yesterday.
Regions 6 and 7 (Western and Central Visayas) — where Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, respectively, previously belonged — are already huge regions, said Aquino.
“Napagplanuhan na ito, napag-aralan na ito, and for it (NIR) to be revoked nang basta-basta, I think, is a rash move,” the senator said.
Then President Benigno Aquino III — Senator Aquino’s cousin and Liberal Party mate — signed EO No. 183 on May 29, 2015.
“Ang pinaka-goal diyan, iyong funding, serbisyo at pagtutok sa rehiyon na ito, magiging focused,” Senator Aquino said.
Malacañang and Cabinet officials cited “budget constraints” as reason for the abolition.
With P19 billion needed to maintain the NIR, Budget secretary Benjamin Diokno said keeping the region is an “expensive exercise.”
Aquino promised to look into the real reason. There are other things aside from the budget that are expensive, he stressed.
“I’m in favor of having Region 18,” the senator stressed. “[It is] a long time coming, and the people have prepared for this.”
Zubiri, meanwhile, fully supports the retention of the region.
“The lopsided development of various areas in the island, the wide gap in poverty, and the tenuous peace and order situation with marked militarization in some areas can only be addressed when the NIR is fully operational,” he said in a statement.
Zubiri filed a Senate resolution calling for the continued recognition of the NIR. He claimed to be a “true-blooded Negrense,” saying his father, Bukidnon governor Jose Ma. Zubiri Jr., was a native of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
He said the NIR will “promote efficiency in the region, enhance decentralization from the national government and bolster economic development for [the locals].”
In a related development, a multi-sector forum on the NIR will be held on Oct. 24 at the Social Hall of the Negros Occidental provincial capitol.
Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said a member of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan will help him organize it. He said it is a “good sign.”
At the end of the forum, participants are expected to come up with a “unified position paper” that Interior secretary Ismael Sueno will present during the next Cabinet meeting, said Marañon.
Mayors, congressmen, and academe and business sector representatives are expected to attend. Interior undersecretary Jesus Hinlo already confirmed his attendance./PN
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