SENATOR Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday, August 9, said he is saddened by the abolition of the Negros Island Region (NIR), but remained optimistic on the future of both Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
“I respect President Duterte’s decision for its abolition,” Zubiri said in a press statement.
“I believe that the two provinces will definitely play a key role in the President’s vision to move our form of government towards federalism,” he added.
The senator said: “I was there in the campaign to extend the recognition of the NIR and did my share when push came to shove. I filed Resolution No. 203 (on) October 17, 2016. Let me reassure you that we will not stop looking for reasons to have the NIR re-established.”
Zubiri added that “in the coming budget deliberations, we can see to it that development programs for the (two) provinces will be funded.”
Last year, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental had launched a campaign supporting the retention of NIR.
The two Negros governors led the signing of the manifesto appealing to Duterte to retain the region.
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo had supported the presidential bid of Duterte’s opponent, former Interior secretary Manuel Roxas II, who pushed for the creation of NIR.
After the 2016 elections, Marañon and Degamo, along with other local officials, joined Duterte’s political party, the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.