By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco yesterday said the abolition of the Negros Island Region (NIR) will not hamper the city’s developments, noting investors had already expressed interest in the city before NIR had even been planned.
“The city’s development is continuous because we are at the junction of the two provinces,” he explained. “Investors are already in the city and several have already signified their intentions of putting up their businesses in the city.”
Zayco also named several companies and establishments which have already set up shop in the city, including Puregold, Citi Hardware, CityMall, Gaisano, and Robinsons.
The mayor added he is also awaiting the installation of fiber optics in the city, in order to facilitate the entry of call centers.
Among the infrastructure the city also boasts are new roads connecting the city to Bayawan City and Ayungon, both in Negros Oriental.
Earlier this month, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 38, which effectively abolished the NIR.
The abolition stemmed from claims by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) quoting the cost of the region’s retention at P19 billion./WDJ