By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Following President Rodrigo Duterte signing Executive Order No. 83, which dissolves the Negros Island Region (NIR), Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Paolo ‘Bam’ Aquino expressed their disappointment with the decision.
Zubiri, who has roots in Negros Occidental, said he is saddened by the decision, but respects the president’s decision.
“We will not stop looking for reasons to have the NIR re-established,” he declared.
However, Zubiri added, the move “definitely plays a key role in the president’s vision to move our form of government towards federalism.”
Meanwhile, Aquino, in a statement, said, “We are disappointed with the decision to abolish the Negros Island Region.”
He believes the dissolution could hamper the region’s development and poverty alleviation efforts.
Yesterday morning, Duterte signed an executive order, forwarded by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno, seeking the termination of the NIR.
The dissolution stemmed from Diokno’s claims the region’s retention would cost the national government P19 billion./WDJ