BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon has still insisted on the creation of One Negros Island Region over the proposal of Silliman University in Negros Oriental for a One Negros Regional Development Council instead.
Marañon said the SU proposal will not work because it has "no strength," and that it will just be the same as the present set-up of the RDC.
Negros Occidental belongs to Region 6 while Negros Oriental is in Region 7. The answer to the problem is to merge the two Negros provinces into one region, said Marañon.
In a radio interview, SU professors, Doctor Enrique Oracion, and Law Dean Mikail Maxino, said that having a One Negros RDC will mean unity for infrastructure developments on the whole Negros island-from roads and bridges to highways and tourism sites, and from socio-economic growth to education and local governance.
The SU professors contended that, with One Negros RDC, both provinces can get allocation for its development from the national government through a presidential executive order.
They further said the two provinces, under the One Negros RDC concept, can divide the budget for themselves, while amending the regional political set up, as in the One Negros Island Region, would be tedious and time-consuming.
Marañon, however, insisted for the regionalization, while his counterpart, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, had strongly opposed it.
The last consultative meeting on the One Negros Region proposal will be held at Bayawan City in Negros Oriental on January 29.