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[av_heading heading=’Negros Region EO repealfeared ‘ 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BACOLOD City –The executive order creating the Negros Island Region may get repealed when the Philippines adopts a federal form of government, a Negros Occidental provincial board member warned.
“Once we amend the Constitution, all laws, rules and executive issuances will either be repealed or amended accordingly,” said Alain Gatuslao (5th District), a lawyer by profession.
Negros Island Region, or Region 18, was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 183 that then President Benigno Aquino III signed on May 29, 2015.
Asked what will then happen to the newly created region, Gatuslao said,“I cannot say [exactly] because it’s not clear what kind of federalist setup we will adopt.”
President Rodrigo Duterte has been pushing for a federal form of government.
He has been advocating it, making tours across the country, even when he was still mayor of Davao City.
“Honestly, I think, with the exception of the President, there is probably no one who knows the details or timeline regarding the (proposed) shift to federalism,” said Gatuslao. “We have not yet even finalized the mode to be used in amending the Constitution.”
He said the Provincial Board believes it would be beneficial to the locals if Negros becomes a one-island state.
In the meantime, Gatuslao said they will push for the passage of a law creating the Negros Island Region.
“An EO (executive order) may be repealed anytime by the president, but a Republic Act is more difficult to change or repeal,” he said.
Earlier, Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will ask the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to pass a resolution seeking the passage of such law.
A “legislative action” is the best way to secure the current status of the island, he said.
Rep. Alfredo Benitez (3rd District) vowed to look into the possibility.
He said he will check if it jibes with the proposed delineations/statesin Visayas under the federal government: Central, Western and Eastern.
“Let us see if it (Visayas) can be further divided to include a Negros state,” said Benitez./PN
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