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Negros provinces to have faster development, stronger economy under NIR

BACOLOD CITY, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- Undersecretary for Public Safety Jesus Hinlo Jr. of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said both Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental will have faster development and stronger economy if they will stay under one region.

The DILG official’s statement was reported Wednesday as the campaign to retain the Negros Island Region (NIR) continues with the support of DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno himself.

Hinlo, who is a Negrense, said President Rodrigo Duterte has heard the appeals of the DILG and of the Negros governors and mayors to retain the NIR.

He said the issue on the NIR may be tackled in the next Cabinet meeting in March.

For his part, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said NIR was able to operate and develop even without the budget last year and also this year as shown in the accomplishment reports of the regional line agencies.

Sueno had earlier said that National Economic Development Authority Director-General Ernesto Pernia and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno have expressed opposition to the retention of the NIR.

However, Marañon Jr. said the growing support for the retention of NIR, or Region 18, especially from Sueno and other Cabinet secretaries is “encouraging.”

Marañon had met with Sueno in Manila first week of January to discuss updates on their campaign to save the NIR.

The governor also said he is grateful to Sueno for going out of his way to gather support for the retention of NIR.

“I would like to echo my deep gratitude to Secretary Sueno and the DILG family for their vocal expression of support on the retention of Region 18,” Marañon had ealier said.

The Executive Order creating the NIR was signed by former President Benigno Aquino III on May 29, 2015. It separated Negros Occidental from Western Visayas, and Negros Oriental from Central Visayas to form the country’s 18th region. (PNA)

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