Talks continue One-Negros Island Region meeting set in Negros Or

CEBU, Philippines – At least 600 public officials and members of the private sectors of the two Negros provinces are expected to meet on Saturday to continue talks on the proposed One-Negros Island Region.

This was confirmed by Negros Oriental Vice Governor Edwark Macias, who said the consultative meeting will be held at the Negros Oriental Convention at 10 a.m. on October 25.

Macias said the meeting is “the same as what happened there (Negros Occidental) except there will be people against it. We will listen to all.”

Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo had been very vocal with his opposition to the proposal, as he insisted that he would only change his stand if he sees a feasibility study that will improve the lives of his people.

Macias, on the other hand, is now hell bent in pushing for the realization of the One-Negros Island Region, but he said he was not optimistic that Degamo will change his stand after the consultation meeting.

The vice governor added that he has “no idea” if Degamo will attend although the latter will be invited, as invitations were already sent out to those who are expected to participate.

Macias added that those in-charge of the invitations were Amlan town Mayor Bentham De la Cruz, president of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Negros Oriental; Jimalalud town Councilor Chester Lim, president of the Philippine Councilors’s League-Negros Oriental; and Provincial Board Member Arnie Teves, president of the Association of Barangay Captains-Negros Oriental.

They are still scrambling to make the necessary preparations, Macias told The Freeman.

The last consultative meeting on the proposal was on June 24 at the Negros Occidental Capitol in Bacolod City, which was attended by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Negrense leaders, headed by Governors Alfredo Marañon Jr. of Negros Occidental and Degamo of Negros Oriental.

Roxas at the time assured the proponents that the regionalization will be realized before 2016 as long as his office has the consolidated data to fast track the process.