By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. said the existence of the Negros Island Regional Development Council (NIRDC), which met yesterday in Talisay City, is proof the Negros Island Region still exists.
“We have been in existence for almost a year now,” he said. “There is only one person who wants us [divided],” referring to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who has advocated for the dissolution of NIR.
Marañon, however, admitted they have encountered difficulties due to budget constraints.
Last year, it was revealed NIR was not included in the 2017 national budget. At the time, NIR was without a DBM regional director and the budgets for Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental were still handled under Regions 6 and 7, respectively.
“We are positive, by next year, we will be included in the national budget,” the governor added.
The dissolution of the NIR stemmed from Diokno’s claim the region’s existence would cost the national government around P19 million annually.
After the DBM secretary forwarded a draft executive order to President Rodrigo Duterte seeking the region’s dissolution, local politicians called on the president to not sign it.
NIR was established in 2015, through Executive Order No. 184, signed by then-President Benigno S. Aquino III./WDJ