On one-negros island region plan: Marañon hits Degamo's "opposition"

Bacolod City , Philippines— "Politically-motivated." This was the declaration of Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. in reaction to the statement of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, who claimed that 70 percent of his province's populace were against the One-Negros Island Region proposal.

Marañon said the stand of Degamo was "politically-motivated," adding that the proposal had been initiated 20 years ago. He insisted that the Oriental governor is the only public official who is not sold out with the planned merger of the two Negros provinces.

"He is the only one opposing," but the opposition of Degamo will somehow affect the plan because if the latter is not convinced with it then it will not push through, said the Occidental governor.

Marañon said the statement Degamo was conflicting because majority of the Oriental officials, including the vice governor, Provincial Board members, barangay captains, mayors and even the businessmen have been supporting the one-island region. "Who are those 70 percent?" he asked.

On the statement of Degamo that he has yet to see a feasibility study to justify the proposal, Marañon said that "before the study, we solicited the reaction of the officials. There was already a consensus."

For his part, Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose "Bong" Lacson said: "The statement of Governor Degamo does not help the one-island vision. We're getting mixed signals from the Oriental side."

Lacson however pointed out that "this should not stop us from collating all pertinent data to convince the president that a one-island region is feasible." He added that Degamo's apprehension "will make it difficult to convince the president."

Degamo earlier insisted that a survey conducted in his province showed that 70 percent of his constituents were against the proposal, and that he would only adhered to it if everybody approves it.

The Oriental governor claimed he saw a lot of politicking in uniting the two provinces, reiterating that he will only be convinced when he sees proof of its development. He further said that Negros leaders should not railroad the proposal but study it further.

On June 24, a consultative meeting on the proposal was held at the Capitol in Bacolod City and was attended by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and 200 leaders from two Negros provinces.

Roxas said then that it was possible to realize the one-island proposal before 2016 as long as all the needed data are consolidated to fast track its process.