Businessmen in Negros Oriental supporting the proposed Negros Island Region said they want a transition period first instead of government spending P40 billion to set up a regional center.

Ed Du, president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said during a forum Tuesday in Dumaguete City with Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior and Local Government that a transition period of perhaps three years will allow the two Negros provinces time to adjust to the new regional structure.

Roxas has endorsed the Negros Island Region proposal to President Benigno Aquino III but he had visited Dumaguete City for another public consultation before proceeding to Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, to inspect the proposed site for the regional offices.

Du said the NOCCI is pushing for the transition period where existing offices in both Dumaguete City and Bacolod City can be utilized first so that there will be no cost, on the part of the national government.

Of the 40 national government agencies in the Philippines, around 30 already have provincial offices in both capital cities.

Du said that once the Negros Island Region is in full swing, it may not be practical to travel to Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, or Mabinay, Negros Oriental, where the regional government offices are to be located.

A businessman who wants to do some transactions at the regional center can only access it by land as there is no airport or seaport there, he added.

On the opposition to the proposal, Du said the protesters should convince their elected officials to represent their voice in the deliberations.

“The presumption is that when you elected them, they are your representatives. If you are against the one island region, you should go to your elected officials. That is the process of democracy," Du said.

So far, based on the consultations he had attended, Du said he has not heard of a "very strong opposition" to the one island region.

Up to now, he said, he has not seen any position paper on the disadvantages of the proposed Negros Island region, he added.*JFP

back to top