Bacolod City – Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is eyeing a meeting with Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo next week to discuss the proposed unification of two provinces as one region.
Lacson said he initially talked with Degamo during the holiday break. However, he said that he was not able reach Degamo, as of press time.
Degamo had initially signified opposition to the creation of Negros Island Region (NIR), where Siquijor was proposed to be included.
Both Negros Oriental and Siquijor are under Region 7, while Negros Occidental belongs to Region 6.
The creation of NIR was already approved by the Technical Working Group of the House committee on Local Government.
In his opposition to the NIR creation, Degamo cited “cultural differences.”
All the Negros Island solons co-authored a bill creating NIR, which is also supported by five senators, including Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri.
The NIR was first established through an executive order issued by the late President Benigno Aquino III in 2015. It was however dissolved by his successor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in 2017. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)