NFR to consist of Negros provinces and Siquijor

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya, who serves as spokesperson for the Consultative Committee, confirmed during a recent federalism roadshow in Dumaguete City, a Negros region will be included among the list of regional states in their proposal for a shift towards a federal form of government.

In response to a question posed by Isabela Mayor JoselitoMalabor regarding a proposed Negros region, the DILG official explained there are currently 18 proposed states.

He noted, the list “will be submitted to the president and, if he approves it, he will submit it to Congress for approval.”

“Under the old Negros Island Region (NIR), which is unitary in form, the national agencies are representatives of the national government in NIR,” Malaya explained. “Under the Negros Federated Region (NFR), these agencies [are] under the regional state government and need not report to the national government.”

Under the said proposal, NFR would include the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the NIR due to a lack of funds.

Meanwhile, also present at the event were Negros Oriental Governor RoelDegamo, Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo, among other officials./DGB, WDJ