By Paulo Loreto Lim

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo, Jr. recently announced, following a personal appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte, the chief executive is requesting a formal memorandum addressing the retention of the Negros Island Region (NIR).
“I’ll prepare the memorandum as soon as possible,” Hinlo said. “I’ll protect all the activities for the good of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.”
Last month, during a pro-Duterte rally at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), the DILG official spoke about the need to industrialize the region and credited Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. for the proposed ship recycling facility planned in Hinoba-an.
“We have the sugar industry, but outside the sugar industry, we have to have factories [and] we have to manufacture goods and services in Negros,” Hinlo said as he addressed the gathered crowd in late February.
Meanwhile, in light of rumors an unnamed former local official was being eyed to replace Hinlo at DILG, he said he was personally assured by the president he would stay put in his position.
He currently serves as undersecretary for public service.
“Rumors will stay as rumors,” Hinlo said./WDJ