Guv assures peer of ‘equal footing’ in NIR

By Dolly Yasa

Bacolod City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Monday assured Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo of equal footing in the re-establishment of Negros Island Region (NIR).

Lacson said that Degamo need not worry about it.

In an earlier meeting with Lacson in Dumaguete City, Degamo proposed that NIR should include four provinces to ensure equal voting at Regional Development Council (RDC) meetings.

Degamo at the same meeting “placed on the table the idea of creating the new region with four provinces. Proposing three Negros provinces for what he terms as “equal footing,” Lacson said.

In a joint press conference with Lacson after their meeting, Degamo asserted that a third Negros province could be created from Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental to Escalante in Negros Occidental.

A third Negros province along with Siquijor would assure equal voting in the NIR-RDC

Lacson said Degamo can have the RDC if he wants.

“There’s no problem, we are willing to give him that, he can be the first RDC chairman of the NIR,” Lacson said.