BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Negrenses are hoping President Duterte will not sign the executive order dissolving the Negros Island Region (NIR).
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental and the NIR peace and order council passed separate resolutions yesterday seeking to retain the region.
The NIR was created under an executive order signed by former president Benigno Aquino III on May 29, 2015. The EO separated Negros Occidental from Western Visayas and Negros Oriental from Central Visayas.
Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno told Palace reporters last week that the EO dissolving the region is ready for the President’s signature.
Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said at least 10 Negros and some party-list lawmakers are expected to push for the retention of NIR.
Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said nine NIR congressmen wrote a letter to the President asking him not to dissolve the region.
“We are on the right track toward achieving our two decades-old dream of a unified Negros to fast-track development through an integrated ecosystems-based planning and program implementation,” the letter stated.