Sweet promises

ON FEBRUARY 20 and 21, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his senatorial candidates under the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas visited the twin provinces of Negros Occidental and Oriental. Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental, hosted the February 21 campaign sortie, followed by Victorias City in Negros Occidental the next day.

I had the privilege of covering both events, which allowed me to hear from all of the senatorial candidates, as well as President Bongbong Marcos himself. What stood out in their speeches were the “sweet promises” made to the Negrenses.

These promises included addressing the Kanlaon crisis, the Negros Island Region (NIR), support for the sugar industry, and the construction of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge, among other key issues.

LONG-TERM PLAN

The President, who met with 1,500 Kanlaon evacuees at La Carlota Central Elementary School II in La Carlota City, promised continued government support for them during this ongoing crisis. He assured the displaced Negrenses that the government would not abandon them as long as the situation remains unresolved, which began with the Kanlaon eruptions on December 9, 2024.

In addition to leading the distribution of P5,000 cash aid and two family food packs for each of the 323 evacuee families in La Carlota, the President also convened with local officials, led by Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson. Together, they discussed both short- and long-term contingency plans, including establishing a permanent relocation site for the 84 evacuee families — 36 in La Castellana and 48 in Canlaon City. This would ensure that they are permanently removed from the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone around Kanlaon Volcano.

The President also urged local officials and concerned government agencies to address the looming education crisis in the areas affected by the Kanlaon eruption. On February 17, the Department of Education – Division of Negros Occidental set up tent classrooms at the La Castellana Central Elementary School compound to continue face-to-face classes for students from Cabagna-an and Mananawin Elementary Schools, who were displaced by the eruption.

Currently, Negros Occidental is home to 1,700 evacuee families in La Castellana, La Carlota City, and Bago City, while Canlaon City in Negros Oriental also hosts over 600 evacuee families.

HELP SIQUIJOR

Re-electionist Sen. Francis Tolentino pledged his support for the NIR. As the youngest region in the country, Tolentino expressed his desire to be part of NIR’s journey toward stabilization as the 19th region.

As one of the co-authors of Senate Bill No. 2507, which paved the way for the passage of the NIR Act of 2024 on June 13 last year, Tolentino emphasized his commitment to helping the region. He highlighted the importance of securing NIR’s own budget starting in 2026, separate from Regions 6 and 7.

Tolentino also promised to support the small island-province of Siquijor, which will be carved out of Region 7, ensuring that it won’t be left behind by its two counterparts in the NIR — Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

“I want Siquijor to also receive help and blessings with the establishment of NIR. It should not be left behind,” said Tolentino, who was once a professor at the law department of Silliman University in Dumaguete.

Records from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) show that 70% of NIR’s regional offices have already been set up in Dumaguete and Bacolod, but none have been established yet in Siquijor.

The rebirth of NIR, which consists of the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, along with the highly urbanized city of Bacolod, became official on June 13, 2024, after President Marcos signed Republic Act (RA) No. 12000, also known as the NIR Act of 2024.

NIR was initially established by the late President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in 2015 through Executive Order (EO) No. 183. However, it was abolished by then-President Rodrigo Duterte on August 9, 2017, when he issued EO No. 38, citing a lack of funding as the primary reason.

Later, it became widely known that the abolition of NIR in 2017 was part of a “political vendetta” after Duterte lost to Mar Roxas in both Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental by a wide margin in the 2016 presidential election.

SUGAR INDUSTRY

Senatorial candidate Abby Binay, on the other hand, promised to push for a clear policy on the sugar industry.

“Let us make a clear policy that during harvest time, there will be no importation. That has to be clearly in black and white,” Binay, a term-limited mayor of Makati, said.

What Binay truly wants is to eliminate import dependence so the government can empower local farmers, create jobs, and even transform the country into a sugar exporter.

According to Binay, the sugar industry suffers from a lack of support, with farmers — especially in Negros — earning only once a year during the harvest season, which runs from August to April.

However, the Makati mayor is not just advocating for a government-backed no-importation policy during the harvest period. She also proposes a national campaign to achieve 100% reliance on locally produced sugar.

Negros Occidental, often referred to as the “sugar bowl” of the Philippines, alone contributes nearly 60% of the country’s sugar output.

“Imagine if we become 100% reliant on local produce,” she said.

Usually, planters blame importation for the drop in millgate prices, which leads to widespread frustration within the industry.

PGN BRIDGE

Boxing icon and comebacking senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao also promised to help push for the construction of the much-awaited and ambitious P189-billion, 34.47-kilometer Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge.

Pacquiao is confident that once the PGN Bridge is completed, it will spur economic growth in both Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region (NIR).

Having once been part of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Task Force Kalikasan, Pacquiao reassured Negrenses and Ilonggos that concerns about potential environmental damage from the construction of the PGN Bridge should not be a worry.

He explained that modern technologies are advanced enough, and foreign contractors will ensure that no underwater marine resources — especially coral reefs — are harmed.

The Guimaras Strait, which divides Negros and Guimaras Islands, is home to the precious “diwal” (angel’s wing) shell and the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region VI, contractors for this ambitious project are currently conducting soil testing in the waters between Panay and Guimaras, as well as between Guimaras and Negros.

Civil works for the project’s first segment are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2025, with completion expected by June 2028. The first segment will cover the 13-kilometer Panay-Guimaras section (Section A), which includes a sea-crossing bridge spanning 4.97 kilometers.

This will be followed by the 19.47-kilometer Guimaras-Negros section (Section B), which will feature a sea-crossing bridge length of 13.11 kilometers.

ACCOUNTABILITY

When asked for a comment, Frank Carbon, CEO of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), said it is encouraging to note that Marcos’ candidates acknowledged the critical needs of the Negros Island Region (NIR) — specifically the sugar industry, which is vital to the local economy, and the PGN Bridge, which is crucial for the economic integration of Western Visayas and NIR.

“But the real question is: how will we hold them accountable for these promises after the elections?” Carbon asked.

I fully agree with Sir Frank.

It’s good to hear all these “sweet promises” from the administration’s senatorial candidates, but let’s hope that each of them will soon become a reality. Kabay pa!/PN