He is not in favor of a Negros Island Development Council in place of an island region, what are needed are regional offices of national government agencies on the island, the governor said.

A Negros Island Development Council would be redundant, he said, since Negros Occidental is currently part of the Western Visayas RDC while Negros Oriental is part of the Central Visayas RDC.

The governor and other officials of Negros Occidental and Oriental are pushing for both provinces to be part of the Negros Island region, instead of being parts of regions 6 and 7. But Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo has not endorsed the island region plan, saying further study is needed.

President Benigno Aquino has tasked Local Governments Secretary Mar Roxas to study the island region proposal and make the necessary recommendations.

Last week, Local Governments Undersecretary Austere Panadero said the creation of a Negros Island Region has not been ruled out, but other options are also being explored.

Panadero said the Department of Interior and Local Government recommendations will be approved first by Roxas, before they are presented to Aquino.

Among the bodies being eyed for creation is the Negros Island Development Council, Panadero said.

Maria Lina Sanogal, Negros Occidental provincial planning and development officer, said Panadero had told her earlier that they are having a hard time pushing for the proposed Negros Island Region.

"He said that it is very expensive for government to set up new regional offices for a new region," Sanogal said, with initial estimates at P40 million.

They are eyeing initially setting up satellite offices of vital national agencies in Negros Island for the meantime, she said.

Panadero requested a list of the regional offices based in Iloilo City but have no satellite offices in Negros that are considered vital, Sanogal said.

PNOY AGAIN

Meanwhile, Marañon reiterated that he is in favor of amending the Constitution to allow Aquino to seek a second term.

“For me, he is the best president we have ever had,” the governor said.

It is better to have Aquino for a second term, than for him to be replaced by someone who is a thief, who will mean trouble for the country, he added.*CPG

back to top