A “good idea,” that was how Vice President Jejomar Binay described yesterday the proposed Negros island region, being pushed by government executives of the Oriental and Occidental provinces.

The proposal to create a Negros island region is now under study by the Department of Interior and Local Government, in tandem with the National Economic Development Authority.

Binay, who was in Negros for the 58th Annual National Council Meeting of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, said that having a one-island region, it will be an advantage, citing his experience as a mayor of Makati, where he had divided a big barangay into two, and triggered an acceleration of development.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. had said earlier that a summit of officials and stakeholders from Negros Occidental and Oriental to get a consensus that will be presented to the national government will push through.

Marañon has asked that the island region composed of Negros Occidental and Oriental be created through an executive order of the President.

Negros Occidental is now part of the Western Visayas with regional offices in Panay, while Negros Oriental is part of Central Visayas with regional offices in Cebu.* GPB

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