By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo is still opposing the proposal to reestablish the Negros Island Region (NIR).

Provincial Information Officer Alex Lozada said Degamo does not see any need for Negros Oriental to join NIR as they are doing well.

Lozada also said Degamo is concerned that the province’s economy would be affected.

When it comes to voting power, Negros Occidental has more lawmakers compared to Negros Oriental, Lozada said.

Degamo also sees that his province’s economy would be more stable if it sticks with Central Visayas region.

He believes that the House of Representatives and the Senate will understand his position as to why he is opposed.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is due to meet Degamo soon, with the final schedule now being set.

Earlier, Lacson said that he was hoping that Degamo would have a “change of heart,” and support the passage of the NIR bill.

Lacson also admitted that the full passage of the NIR bill may not be easy, but with the present developments, things are moving towards the right direction.

The substitute bill seeking NIR’s revival will include the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

Senate Bill 1236, or the Negros Island Region Act of 2022, already hurdled the committee on local government in December of last year.

The NIR was dissolved in 2017 due to the high cost of maintaining the region./DGB, WDJ