Degamo: “No” to NIR now

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — In the absence of “concrete data and feasibility study” showing that the proposed Negros Island Region will uplift the lives of Negrenses, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo said he says “no” to the plan at this time.

Degamo yesterday said the two previous consultations on the NIR proposal failed to present data and a feasibility study that would warrant the rationale on the unification of two Negros provinces, Occidental and Oriental.

As governor of Negros Oriental, Degamo said he is accountable to his people and his signature to the bid would also mean their signatures. He said he does not want to make hasty decisions and his present stand can only change if studies would show otherwise.

The governor was informed of a recent study of Silliman University showing more people of Negros Oriental are against the NIR proposition with 57 percent still undecided and unaware about the merger of two provinces.

Degamo cited the performance of Negros Oriental as having consistently ranked 2nd in the number of tourist arrivals from 2013 up to the first half of this year. “This is a good indication, while construction of big establishments is booming here,” he said, hinting that a merger may not be feasible for his province at this time.

Representative Pryde Henry Teves (3rd district, Negros Oriental), for his part, suggested that Negros Oriental “should start carving its own path to the future.”

On the NIR plan, Teves proposed for a 10-year transition period, and put in print how much is to be shared between the two provinces based on land area and population.

Except for common service facilities, both parties shall be co-equal in the establishment of an international airport, seaports, industrial zones and light industrial parks, he said.

The NIR proposal should not be voted upon because the Oriental side has only three representatives while the Occidental side has seven, said Teves.

Teves added that it must be agreed on that if an international airport will be built in Kabankalan City (Occidental), then an international seaport be built somewhere in Bais City (Oriental). Likewise, if an industrial park be put up in Himamaylan City (Occidental), then another one be established somewhere in Tanjay City (Oriental).

“Let us put our foot down, let us learn to stand by our own feet, let us carve our own path, and make our own destiny. We have so much resources at our disposal, geothermal power, raw materials in agriculture and aquaculture and mineral resources, tourism spots, and more importantly we have the academic institutions to prepare our youth. We can make our own regional hubs and export our products and not wait for left overs,” Teves declared. (FREEMAN)