Reviving a dream talks start making 2 Negros provinces under one region

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Re-elected officials of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces have revived talks to pursue the One-Island Region proposal, a dream conceived in the early 1990s that spanned through several governors in more than two decades since.

The Negros Island is composed of two provinces—Negros Occidental that belongs to Region 6 (Western Visayas) and Negros Oriental that belongs to Central Visayas (Region 7).

A bill creating the One-Island Region for Negros had been filed already in the past, and officials of these two provinces have been regularly discussing now on the re-filing of the bill in Congress.

Negros Oriental Representatives George Arnaiz (2nd District) and Pryde Henry Teves (3rd District) the other day visited Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. at the Capitol in Bacolod, upon the invitation of the governor, to discuss the One-Island Region.

“Imagine the possibilities of making Negros Island one region,” Teves said in an interview after the meeting. “For example, our roads connecting the Occidental and Oriental from the north, the east and western sides, you can see the advantages of things—in commerce, trade and education—I think it will be fantastic,” he said.

Teves said both provinces have vast resources of geothermal power, which can make the island sustainable in terms of energy resources. With its vast size, Negros Occidental has no power plant of its own. It sources power from Negros Oriental, Iloilo, Cebu and Leyte,” he said.

Negros Oriental officials, led by Gov. Roel Degamo, have been supportive of the plan, said Teves. “On our side, we have been pursuing it. We are very motivated to do it,” he said.

Teves also disclosed that even Siquijor, the neighboring island that also belongs to Region 7, wanted to join the One-Island Region plan.

In Negros Occidental, officials have started the “One Island, One Region” dream for more than two decades, or since the time of former governors Daniel “Bitay” Lacson Jr. (now chairman of the GSIS), Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela (former SRA chief), and Joseph Marañon (the incumbent governor’s brother).

Under the plan, Panay Island will become a solid region (Region 6) with the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique, including the island-province of Guimaras as one legislative region with Iloilo City remaining as the regional center.

Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental will become another region with the municipality of Mabinay (of Negros Oriental) located at the boundary of two Negros provinces as the new regional capital of the island to be developed and enhanced by the national government.

Coscolluela, who also attended the Tuesday meeting, said the “One Island, One Region,” conceptualized during the administration of former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos, did not materialize because the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) then was “very reluctant to endorse the creation of new regional offices” due to budget constraints.

“I’m glad they (officials) are thinking (of reviving) it again, because the reasons (for its creation) are still valid, and the more important reason is for the two provinces to work together officially,” Coscolluela said. “It would be useful to discuss the proposal again… It would allow the two provinces to coordinate their infrastructure developments and initiatives, that will come from the national government,” he said. (FREEMAN)