DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines - Majority of the participants in the provincial consultation and workshop on the proposed One Negros Island Region, held in this city on Monday, stood pat on their early pronouncements opposing the plan.
At least 40 local government officials and representatives from various civic groups, the business sector and non-government organizations in Negros Oriental attended the meeting where some of them said it was too early yet to have a conclusive stand on the matter.
Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, who attended as, he said, an observer, denied recent reports that the political rivalry between him and Vice Governor Edward Mark Macias has intensified due to their different stand on the proposed One Negros Island Region.
“I want to hear what the stand of my people,” Degamo told The Freeman, as he declared that the proposal—merging the Occidental and Oriental provinces of Negros—is not his priority now because he has many things to do for his province.
The consultation and workshop on the planned new region was spearheaded by the Negros Oriental provincial government in coordination with the DILG under the auspices of the Negros Oriental Network of NGOs, or NEGORNET, headed by Monsignor Merlin Logronio.
Ed Du, president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who earlier issued a statement against the proposed One Negros Island Region, said his group already has a position paper which he presented during the whole day consultation.
Du said the stand of NOCCI is “qualified support” and not all out support to the proposal, but on three conditions.
The first condition is that it should be done at no cost to the government, because “if we have to spend billions of pesos just to create the One Negros Island Region, we don’t think it’s proper at this point in time.” Many Filipinos are suffering from poverty and spending huge amounts of money for the creation of a new region would not be appropriate, said Du.
The second NOCCI condition is that the plan shall “benefit the poor people of Negros Oriental otherwise, if we do this and those who benefit are only certain sectors,” then the business group will not allow it.
Finally, the third condition calls for a transition period, said Du citing as an example a couple who decide to not get married yet and instead get to know more about each other. “After the transition period of two to three years, then maybe that’s the time we can marry,” he added.
Degamo, for his part, said he was still checking the availability of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas so they can schedule the next consultative meeting, with Occidental officials, which will be conducted in Negros Oriental.
Degamo clarified that he is “not picking a fight” as he noted that he has yet to see a feasibility study that could guarantee development and bring improvement to the lives of his people. “It’s not about politics,” he said.
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., for his part, alleged that Degamo’s opposition was politically-motivated. This prompted Degamo to react by saying: “Politics has nothing to do with my stand. I hope they respect my opinion.”
Degamo, while insisting that he only wanted to see a feasibility study first before deciding, said, “let’s just be practical. I won’t gamble on this because we will be spending billions of government funds in the creation of new region.”
The Oriental governor further said: “I’m happy with Central Visayas.” Negros Occidental belongs to Region 6 or Western Visayas while Negros Oriental is under Region 7 or Central Visayas.
Degamo explained that the economy of Oriental is high and there is an influx of tourists because of the current setup of the province, which belongs to Region 7. “We have a good record,” he added.
Last Friday, Macias met with Marañon and Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson in Bacolod City, but the details of the close-door meeting were not disclosed to the media.
Marañon downplayed the meeting, saying it was only a lunch, although he admitted they had a short discussion about the One Negros Island Region proposal.
Reports gathered by The Freeman showed that Macias met with Marañon and Lacson to coordinate efforts with the Occidental officials to push for the plan due to the alleged rift between Degamo and Macias.