PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte urged the Negrenses to unite and support his administration even after the abolition of the Negros Island Region (NIR).
Duterte, who attended the opening rites of Buglasan Festival in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Friday, October 13, said he is hoping that the two provinces will continue to be united.
“May this dislocation foster solidarity and camaraderie as we take part in realizing the country’s potentials,” the President said.
“Hand in hand let us lay a new foundation in which we will build a better nation,” he continued.
Duterte also asked the Negrenses to join him “in achieving our mission for a more comfortable and productive life for every Filipino.”
The President will also visit Bacolod City on October 22 to attend the closing highlights of the 38th MassKara Festival.
On August 9, Duterte signed the executive order (EO) abolishing the region, composed of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, due to lack of funds.
With the dissolution of NIR, the two provinces, along with the regional line offices, reverted to its previous regions – Negros Occidental to Western Visayas and Negros Oriental to Central Visayas.
During his speech, Duterte asked the crowd if they are in favor of abolishing NIR.
“I think I signed an administrative order restoring back the original set-up,” he said.
Last October 9, the two-year run of NIR officially ended after all the regional offices shut down their operations.
Anthony Nuyda, director of Department of the Interior Local Government (DILG)-Western Visayas, said regional directors were told to submit their accomplishment and transition reports, which will be consolidated then forwarded to the DILG central office and the Office of the President next month.
Under the NIR, 14 regional offices were housed in Bacolod City while 16 others were hosted by Dumaguete City.
The EO creating NIR was signed by former president Benigno Aquino III on May 29, 2015.