TWO Negrense governors have sponsored a resolution seeking to include Negros Island Region as part of the federated regions under the proposed federal form of government.
The proposal of Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., and Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo was unanimously approved by the League of Provinces of the Philippines.
The resolution read that Negros Occidental, and Negros Oriental are the only provinces situated in one island that were assigned to separate administrative regions.
In 2017, Negros Island Region was abolished after more than two years of existence due to insufficient funds.
The region was created under Executive Order No. 183 by then president Benigno Aquino III on May 29, 2015. This is to further accelerate the social and economic developments in the cities and municipalities comprising these two provinces.
Due to lack of funds to fully establish Negros Island Region and the need to ensure funding for priority government programs and projects, President Rodrigo Duterte through EO 38 reverted Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental to Western Visayas and Central Visayas, respectively.
The merger of the two Negros provinces into a single island region has long been envisioned by its leaders for the past 25 years as the way to ensure an effective, efficient as well as timely service delivery to its constituents, and to further accelerate development within the island, the resolution said.
The resolution also signified its support to the National Capital Region as the Federal Capital.
While the national government continues to get the support of the people on federalism, it is imperative that the proposed change in the Constitution should reflect the voice of the people since it will entail overhauling the Charter and changing the form of government.
This will be a long process. In the end, hope the Filipinos win.