Over one-Negros Island plan Marañon hits Degamo’s opposition

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has chided Negros Oriental Roel Degamo again after the latter allegedly said that he could not believe that the supposed getting-to-know trip of the officials of the two provinces turned into a discussion of the One-Negros Island Region proposal.

“This is the clamor of the people, that’s why we revived it,” Marañon said as he pointed out that the concept to merge the two Negros provinces into one region was conceived 20 years ago. “This has been proposed a long time ago and it was on record,” he said.

“Why doesn’t he (Degamo) know about it?” Marañon asked, as he noted that all of the other Oriental officials knew about the renewed talks on the proposed one-island region.

Degamo had been very vocal in his opposition to the proposal, saying that he first needed to see a feasibility study showing that a new region would improve the quality of his people in Negros Oriental. Marañon, for his part, vowed to push for its realization though.

Negros Occidental belongs to Western Visayas while Negros Oriental is under Central Visayas.

Earlier, the Negros Occidental provincial government sent out 2,500 flyers to Negros Oriental to educate the people there and clarify misconceptions about the One-Negros Island Region plan.

The Silliman University, headed by Dr. Enrique Oracion, has been conducting a survey, which started on September 20, among the residents of Negros Oriental to determine their stand on the proposal.

The research team is expecting to have the result within this month.