THE Technical Working Group (TWG) created by the Committee on Local Government of the House of Representatives has approved on Tuesday, December 13, the proposed establishment of the Negros Island Region (NIR), Third District Rep. Jose Francisco "Kiko" Benitez said.
"I would like to thank Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental congressmen," Benitez, who is one of the sponsors of the bills, said.
He also expressed gratitude to Cebu Rep. Edu Rama, who is the chairman of the TWG, and Valenzuela First District Rep. Rex Gatchalian, chairman of the Local Government Committee for the full support of the bill.
Benitez filed House Bill No. 1446 in July this year with Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, Negros Occidental Rep. Gerardo Valmayor (First District), Rep. Emilio Yulo III (Fifth District), Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Sixth District), Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, and Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong (First District), Rep. Manuel Sagarbarria (Second District) and Rep. Arnolfo Teves (Third District) to create the NIR including Siquijor.
For 300 years under the Spanish colonial government, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental were governed as a single province.
It was only in 1890 when Negros was divided into two provinces, the solons stated in the proposed bills.
Reunifying the two Negros provinces under one administrative region is necessary for economic growth to redound to the benefit of the people through the close economic coordination of the two Negros provinces, the bill stated.
It said the inclusion of Siquijor Province is logical and practical due to its proximity and cultural similarities.
The dream of consolidating the two Negros provinces – Oriental and Occidental – in one administrative region continues to live on.
This is a Negrense aspiration deeply grounded in our histories, the bill further stated.
"With the collective support of all Negrense congressmen, officials, and constituents, we shall fervently endeavor to pass the NIR into law," it added.
The passage of the bill came despite the opposition of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo for the establishment of NIR saying he did not want their province to separate from Central Visayas.
Degamo mentioned language and cultural differences with Negros Occidental as among his reasons for not wanting to support the one island region.
He also talked of several other issues like the need to identify where to put the center of government if the NIR proposal would be passed.
Degamo said that his province was already doing well as part of Central Visayas.*