BACOLOD CITY, April 17 (PNA) — Negros is qualified to become a one-island region based on its population, income, and total area, according to Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr..
The governor, a staunch advocate of the proposed Negros Island Region, said the island could equal to Region 6 and 7 based on said criteria.
Negros Occidental is under Western Visayas-Region 6 whose regional center is in Iloilo City while Negros Oriental is part of Central Visayas-Region 7 which has its regional offices in Cebu City.
The governor said the new region will have an allocation from the national government depending on the projects.
“It’s just transferring the money from one pocket to another pocket,” Marañon said in reaction to some statements that Region 6 will lose part of its income and share from the national government if Negros Occidental will be grouped into Negros Island Region with Negros Oriental.
He also said that under the NIR, Negros Occidental is expected to get an equitable share from the regional office.
“We are supposed to get 42 percent of the income but we are only getting less than one-fourth. With NIR, what is due to us will go to us. You go over even the records of the Department of Public Works and Highways and it will show the inequitable sharing of projects,” Marañon said.
Officials of Negros Occidental have welcomed the confirmation of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II of his support to the creation of the NIR.
Roxas, in his speech during the opening of the 22nd Panaad sa Negros Festival, said he endorsed the approval of the NIR to President Benigno S. Aquino III.(PNA)