By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

In response to reports Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno called Executive Order 183, which created the Negros Island Region (NIR), “unconstitutional,” both Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the region has a “legal basis” for its existence.
In a text message sent by Marañon yesterday afternoon, he said Diokno is entitled to his opinion. However, Marañon explained no president would sign an executive order creating a new region without legal basis.
He said the executive branch, with its research and legal staff, did their due diligence on the NIR’s establishment and it also went through the process of an island-wide consultation.
“It is in the best interest of Negrosanons, and the future generation, to have NIR,” Marañon said.
The governor added they thought all along the budgetary requirement was the primary basis of Diokno’s opposition to NIR, but now they know that he is also questioning its constitutionality.
Meanwhile, in a radio interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod over the weekend, Lacson said, “It’s impossible establishing NIR was unconstitutional since [President Benigno S. Aquino III] signed the executive order.”
Diokno argued NIR cannot be considered a “region” because it is only comprised of two provinces, instead of three.
The DBM secretary had previously introduced the executive order to abolish NIR, claiming it would cost the national government P19 billion.
The retention of NIR is expected to be discussed in today’s cabinet meeting./WDJ