By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is hopeful that his counterpart, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, will have a change of heart on the issue of reestablishing the Negros Island Region (NIR).

According to Lacson, they are hoping that at the end of the day, Degamo would support the idea of an NIR.

Lacson also commented that the recent passage of the NIR bill before the House Committee on Local Government is already good news, but he pointed out that it is just the preliminary step.

“What’s more difficult, I think, is when this is elevated to the Committee on Appropriations, although it is stated in the NIR bill that the budget will come from the existing agencies,” Lacson said.

He further stated the full passage of the NIR bill may not be easy.

However, with the present developments, the governor pointed out that things are moving towards the right direction.

Lacson is scheduled to meet the Negros Oriental governor next week to hold further discussions related to reestablishing the NIR.

The substitute bill, seeking the reestablishment of the NIR, will include the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor Island.

Aside from the House of Representatives, its counterpart, Senate Bill 1236 has already hurdled the Senate Committee on Local Government in December of last year.

A technical working group (TWG) composed of representatives from the Office of the Governor and elected members of the House of Representatives in the three provinces, including Bacolod City, will formulate a roadmap for the institutional arrangements of the NIR.

The TWG’s final report and recommendation shall be approved by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who has the final decision, the bill said./DGB, WDJ