By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno recently claimed the establishment of the Negros Island Region (NIR) was unconstitutional, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno said, while he supports the existence of the NIR, he has tasked Undersecretary Austere Panadero to research if the DBM secretary is correct.
Sueno said he has no intention of engaging in a debate with Diokno, but said he will personally speak with him.
“I’ll talk personally [with Diokno] to convince him, so there would be no discussion during the next cabinet meeting,” he noted.
The DILG secretary said nearly all cabinet secretaries are in support of NIR retention, explaining it would be difficult for government offices created for NIR to return to their respective regions if dissolved.
Previously, Diokno stressed the executive order on the establishment of the NIR was unconstitutional, saying a region should be composed of three provinces. He also earlier claimed the establishment of the region would cost the national government P19 billion./WDJ