House panel OKs bill creating Negros island region

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The House committee on local government approved on Tuesday a substitute bill creating the Negros Island Region.

Under the proposal, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor and this city will comprise the region.

Negros Occidental sixth district Rep. Mercedes Alvarez said Siquijor Gov. Jake Vincent Villa and Siquijor Rep. Zaldy Villa manifested before the House panel’s technical working group the inclusion of  Siquijor in the region.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he plans to meet with Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo next week to discuss the proposed unification of the two provinces.

Degamo had earlier expressed his opposition to the creation of the region, citing “cultural differences.”

Alvarez said the House panel has not received any position paper from Degamo.

Asked if the opposition of Degamo will stall the creation of the region, she said the approval of the bill is up to Congress.

The Negros Island Region was created under an executive order issued by the late president Benigno Aquino III in 2015. It was abolished through an EO issued by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.

The bill creating the region is among the priority measures of the Marcos administration.