No nominations yet for NIDC chair post

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Members of the Negros Island Development Council didn’t nominate anybody for chairman in their first council meeting at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall, Friday in this city.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. believed that “it’s too late.” He said that the nominations for chairmanship could be done after the May 2016 elections.

He noted that there’s only one quarterly meeting in March before the elections, then the next meeting was set in June. He added that some of the elected officials could lose in the elections, except him, who is seeking for re-election unopposed.

The governor said that he is not interested to be the NIDC chair even if he will be appointed by the president, citing that it is a “lot of work.”

For now, Marañon wants to focus on the transition work of the new region because “we have plenty of work to do.” He added that he wants everybody to work together to solve the “birth pains and challenges” of the new region.

Before the creation of Negros Island Region, Marañon was the chairman of the Regional Development Council in Western Visayas (Region 6) but had to relinquish his post after Negros Occidental was separated from that region.

Marañon said that either a governor or a mayor is qualified for the post.

At present, NIDC is temporarily chaired by Efren Carreon, interim regional director of National Economic Development Authority.

Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo said he is okay whether or not he will be nominated for the post. He, too, wants to focus on the transition work.

“This convergence is geared toward achieving a more vibrant economic community and socio-cultural exchanges between the two provinces. The merger will enhance our cooperation on matters of good governance, productive investment, tourism, social services and support infrastructure, shared advocacy for the protection and conservation of land and marine ecosystems,” he said.

He said that he is satisfied with the outcome of the first meeting, “this is a historic event for the two provinces.”

“What’s important now is really to start working,” Carreon said, adding that sectoral committees are actually being pushed for the purpose of allowing the different agencies to start working.

During the meeting, the members approved the NIDC manual of operations, which include the organizational structure, creation of four sectoral committees and schedule of quarterly meetings in 2016, and the annual investment program for 2017, which is a list of priority programs and projects to be included in the deliberations of the national budget.

The NIDC meeting was attended by mayors of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, and regional directors of line agencies. —/JMD (FREEMAN)