By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday expressed hope that the next administration will revive the Negros Island Region (NIR).

Lacson said the NIR is “without a doubt” wanted by the majority if not all Negrenses.

He also said his stand does not change and they are hoping the next administration will consider reviving the NIR which this time is supported by law so that it could be allocated with a budget.

The NIR was created by the late President Benigno Aquino in 2015 through Executive Order No. 183.

However, President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the NIR in 2017 with the reason that retaining the region was “too expensive for the national government” and that creating a new region needs to have a supporting republic act and not an executive order.

The NIR is composed by Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, although after the dissolution of the region, there were several talks to either include the island of Siquijor.

The province of Siquijor itself also signified its interest in joining the NIR should it be reestablished./DGB, WDJ