One-Negros Island Region plan consultation proponents vow to continue campaign despite opposition

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – “We will continue doing this advocacy,” according to Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., saying that his group planned to conduct more consultation meetings in different towns and cities in the three districts of Negros Oriental.

“This is to make the Oriental Negrenses understand the reasons behind the One-Negros Island Region plan and its benefits,” Marañon said as he led the Negros Occidental delegation during the Negros Island Region Consultative Forum held at Negros Oriental Convention Center in Dumaguete City on Saturday.

Marañon, who is strongly pushing for the realization of the bid, revealed that the survey of the Siliman University indicated that 57 percent of the Oriental Negreses were “unaware of this issue.”

He said that the goal is to reach out to this 1.7 million people of Negros Oriental. “The ball is in the hands of Negros Oriental. We will help them (Negros Oriental officials) in disseminating the information. It’s imperative to inform the people in the grassroots,” he added.

Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, who was openly opposed to the proposal, attended the forum, which also gathered about 500 of his constituents.

Degamo had been very vocal of his opposition, to which Marañon retorted: “It’s very hard to convince people who already made up their mind. For those who believe, no explanation is necessary but for those who don’t believe, no explanation is possible. Those who don’t like the idea will put hindrance to it,” said the Occidental governor.

Marañon, citing the many commonalitites of the people of the two provinces, further said, “we can do many things if we cooperate with each other. Politicians come and go. We’re not permanent. Let’s put foundation in this huge potential island so the imperial Manila will listen to us.”

He clarified that once the regionalization will push through, there will still be two governors, only the regional offices and activities will be merged.

Degamo explained he does not want the plan to be railroaded. “Haste makes waste. We have to thoroughly and carefully study” the proposal, he said insisting that he wanted a feasibility study first to see if such plan will improve the lives of his people before he will change his opposition. “What we’ve been doing is only consultation, there’s no study.”

When pressed if he will lead the conduct of the study, Degamo said, “we will wait for that,” noting that the National Economic and Development Authority have been conducting it.

“If it (the One-Negros Island Region) will improve the lives of my people, why not?” Degamo said, but clarified that there is no reason to push through with it if there’s no data and study.

Degamo said he would rather have the funds for the proposal to be put up in projects so his people can benefit. “As far as Negros Oriental is concern, we’re happy with Central Visayas,” he said, adding, “we’re soaring high in Region 7.”

As this developed, at least 50 drivers belonging to the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide-Negros Oriental, outside the forum venue, staged a protest rally against the plan, bearing tarpaulins that say: “No to One Negros island; yes to connect Negros-Cebu.” They however joined the forum later.

Anti-leaflets on the one-island region bid were also distributed at the venue. The text, written in Cebuano dialect, said the proposal will only benefit Negros Occidental more and not Negros Oriental. The leaflet also said the people of Negros Oriental will sacrifice because of the development agenda of Negros Occidental, claiming that they will only be a satellite to the economy of Occidental.

Degamo vehemently denied the allegations that he was behind the coordinated rally against the one-island region bid, and that he allegedly paid the protesters. “That’s not true. I will not speak on their behalf. That’s their decision. If they have problems, I will help them but they’re not influenced,” he said.

When pressed for reaction, Negros Oriental Vice Governor Edward Mark Macias commented: “They are entitled to their opinion.” “But (to the question) if they’re being used, I don’t know. Ask them. If they have problems, as officials, let’s see what we can do to help them.”

Cerilo Collado, provincial chair of PISTON-Negros Oriental, however declared: “We’re not supporters of the governor (Degamo). We will only support politicians who will also support our stand. We don’t want one-island region.”

Collado said the regionalization will not improve the economy. The P30 billion budget for the proposal should be divided to the two provinces so it will benefit the ordinary people, like him, he said. “Negros Oriental is a minority compare to Negros Occidental. Everybody knows that,” he claimed.

Edward Du, president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “If you’re contented of being poor, don’t support one-island region.” He pointed out Negros Oriental have been consistent in the Top 20 poorest province in the country over the last 30 years.

“Cebu and Bohol have left us. They’re one of the competitive cities in the country. They don’t care about us,” Du said, citing that most of the region’s budget have been allocated to them. He however believed that President Benigno Aquino III will approve the executive order creating the one-island region by January, next year.

Representative Pryde Henry Teves (3rd district, Negros Oriental), for his part, has supported Du’s statement, saying that there have been a disparity of budget allocation in Central Visayas. “Let’s not wait for leftovers,” he said, while admitting that the proposed new region takes hard work, much planning and convergence. “Let’s put in writing what we want to be fair,” he said.

Former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela said that there will be equal distribution of allocation according to population, land area, income and internal revenue allotment should the regionalization will push through.

Coscolluela, during the forum, presented the things that should be done to move forward with the plan: 1) island-wide information campaign; request for presidential executive order creating the Negros Island Region; ask to create sub-regional offices; create NIR technical working group; formulate the NIR transition plan; prepare the NIR road map and sectoral development plan; and create interim NIR Development Council, disaster management, statistical system, tourism development council and other regional bodies.

Maranon said he and his co-proponents will do what Coscolluela had presented.