Gatanela: Let us support the Negrosanon Federated Region

AS REPORTED by SunStar Bacolod on May 12, 2018, the Consultative Committee (ConCom) tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to study the 1987 Constitution said Friday, May 18, in Bacolod City that the push for the Negrosanon Federated Region (NFR) goes along with the proposed federalization.

This is the best news I have heard lately, as far as Negros Island Region is concerned, and its proposed inclusion as one of the federal states or federated regions.

In fact, a look at history would show that the movement for a single-island region started in the 1980s when officials of both Negros Occidental and Oriental provinces proposed a one-island, one-region unit.

At that time and still is today, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental are the only provinces in the Philippines situated on the same island but belonging to two different administrative regions with regional offices located in neighboring Iloilo City for Western Visayas region, and Cebu City for Central Visayas region, respectively.

However, at present as in the past, Negros Island is one of the few islands that could be independent of the other islands, having the resources, wealth, income, and population to become self-sustaining and chart its own growth and development.

The arguments for One Island, One Federal State are persuasive and do not need further elaboration. First, it would be advantageous to the people of both provinces because they would not need to travel by sea anymore to process transactions in the regional offices, located in Iloilo City or Cebu City.

In addition, having one island, one state or federated region, as the case maybe, would also result in better coordination between both provinces in tourism, education, social services, peace and order, environment, development planning, disaster risk reduction and management, and infrastructure, to mention a few benefits.

The often-repeated question being asked is: Can the Negros Island stand on its own when it becomes a federal state or a federated region?

The answer is yes, a big yes! Consider these verifiable facts, as follows:

1. Negros Island has the most number of cities in the Philippines, at 19 cities, while Metro Manila, the national capital region and the proposed federal capital under the Federal State set up, has only 16 cities.

2. Negros Island has a total land area of 1,331,100 hectares, while Metro Manila has a total land area of 61,960 hectares. In short, Negros Island is 21 times bigger than Metro Manila.

3. Negros Island is the third largest island in the country, after Luzon and Mindanao.

4. Negros Occidental has been consistently the 3rd richest province in the Philippines, and the only province in the country with the most number of cities (13).

On the other hand, Negros Island generated a total net worth of P36.65 billion in 2016, making it the second richest region in the Visayas, after Central Visayas.

Looking back, on November 27, 1898, the Cantonal Republic of Negros unilaterally proclaimed independence from Spain, led by Gen. Aniceto Lacson. It was later renamed the Republic of Negros (Spanish: República de Negros) on 22 July 1899.

It only goes to show that 120 years ago, the Negrenses had already in their hearts and minds the idea of having an independent or autonomous Negros.

Therefore, the proposed Negrosanon Federated Region is a step in the right direction, an idea whose time has come.

As Negrenses, let us support the Negrosanon Federated Region!

(For comments and feedback, please e-mail: eligat_ph@yahoo.com)

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