NEGROS Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is against the idea of changing the name of the country to Maharlika, which was proposed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"If you ask me, I am not in favor. We have been known as the Philippines. I have not heard his reasons and I don't know how it will help the country. I am very happy to say I am a Filipino," Lacson said.

Duterte had proposed changing the country’s name to Maharlika in an effort to move past its colonial history.

“Someday, let’s change it,” Duterte said Monday, February 11, after distributing land titles in the Muslim-majority province of Maguindanao.

He cited that the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos wants to call the country Maharlika, which means nobility in English.

Marcos was right. He wanted to change it to Maharlika because that’s a Malay word.

Meanwhile, Lacson said he is supporting a coal-fired plant in the province.

"My position is I will not stop San Carlos City if they want to be hosting a coal-fired power plant but if they don't want it, I will not encourage them," Lacson said.