Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is hoping that the next administration will give a nod on the rival of the Negros Island Region (NIR).
"Without a doubt the majority, if not all, Negrenses would like to have NIR (revived),” Lacson said.
“My stand does not change (and) we hope the next administration will consider again reviving the Negros Island Region, this time supported by law so that it would be allocated with budget," he said.
The NIR which was created through an Executive Order by the late President Benigno Simeon Aquino was abolished by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 citing lack of funds.
Some political leaders including Vice President Leni Robredo in her visit here last week are backing the revival of NIR.
Several initiatives of combining Negros Occidental and Oriental into one region have been made by previous political leaders were made but failed.
The late Governor Alfredo Marañon led the most recent and successful NIR initiative with the creation of some regional offices of line agencies.*