BACOLOD City – The Senate is waiting for the position paper of Negros Oriental’s Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria on the proposed Negros Island Region (NIR).
Sagarbarria supports the reestablishment of the region.
Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he would no longer visit Sagarbarria in Dumaguete City. He is positive that his counterpart won’t oppose NIR’s reestablishment.
Sagarbarria’s predecessor, the late governor Roel Degamo, opposed the proposal pointing out the cultural divide between the Oriental and Occidental side, as well as Negros Occidental’s “political dominance” and “unequal voting” within the Regional Development Council if NIR will be established.
Degamo was assassinated on March 4 this year in Pamplona town and was replaced by then governor Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes.
Reyes, however, also passed away on June 4.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier this month said the NIR will be approved by December of this year and vowed to give a strong counter-argument against those opposing the creation of the region.
Under the proposed measure, the NIR will be composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
