On one Negros Island Region Silliman University holds survey in Negros Oriental

CEBU, Philippines – Silliman University in Dumaguete City is now conducting a survey among the residents of Negros Oriental if they are in favor of the One-Negros Island Region plan.

About 2,500 flyers were sent out yesterday in Negros Oriental, as part of the information drive of the provincial government to educate the people in that province about the advantages of the plan and to clarify any misconceptions.

Public Information Officer Karen Dinsay said SU's Dr. Enrique Oracion heads the research team, adding that  the flyers were written in Cebuano dialect upon the request of Vice Governor Edward Mark Macias and Amlan town Mayor Bentham De la Cruz.

Dinsay said the opinion poll started on September 20, and is expected it to be finished in a maximum of 12 days, using random sampling per district.

The survey sites in Negros Oriental were: Canlaon City and the towns of Vallehermoso, La Libertad and Tayasan in the 1st district; Dumaguete City, and the towns of Sibulan, San Jose and Mabinay of the 2nd district; and Bayawan City and the towns of Sta. Catalina, Siaton and Zamboanguita of the 3rd district.

Dinsay said the upland and lowland or coastal barangays will be randomly selected in each site. Five households per barangay will be randomly identified with a total sample of household of 120, she said, adding that the research team hoped it can have the results by October.

In a related development, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., said he would not ask the Regional Development Council-6, of which he is the chairman, for an endorsement of the One-Negros Island Region plan, although he vowed to push for its realization.

However, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo was reportedly not too keen on the plan, which he earlier said was not yet his priority because he has many other matters to accomplish for his province.

Degamo also said he has yet to see a feasibility study of the plan that will guarantee development and bring improvement to the lives of his people since the government will spend billions of public funds in the creation of the new region.

Despite the adverse stand of Degamo at this point, Negros Oriental Vice Governor Edward Mark Macias, for his part, has been coordinating efforts with the Occidental officials to move the one-island region plan forward.

Earlier, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said one-island region plan will be realized before 2016 as long as he has the consolidated data to fast track its process.