By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

As a special guest of the Negros Press Club over the weekend, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino said he recently requested for position papers on the retention of the Negros Island Region (NIR) from local leaders, which he said will be presented at the next cabinet meeting.
He also challenged the argument posed by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who presented the executive order to dissolve NIR because it would be too costly for the national government, saying the region would cost P19 billion.
“When I talked with leaders in Negros, they said the region can operate with just P1 billion annually,” said Dino.
Earlier this month, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. expressed his confidence the region would not be abolished, saying the issue is not about money, but about development.
“When we started NIR there was no budget,” he mentioned.
Last month, Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo said he was planning to personally appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte for the retention of the region.
“I’ll prepare the memorandum as soon as possible,” he said. “I’ll protect all the activities for the good of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.”
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Provincial Planning and Development Officer, Maria Lina Sanogal, expressed her appreciation for the presidential assistant on calling attention to NIR./WDJ