THE plan of some senators to resurrect the Negros Island Region (NIR) that was created during the time of the late Noynoy Aquino and killed during the time of PRRD might not materialize.
Under the plan, the island provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental and the island-province of Siquijor will be lumped as one region and will be called as NIR.
This will leave Bohol and Cebu as the remaining provinces of region 7.
But Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo is vehementaly opposed to the plan.
Unless he changes his mind, then the plan is, for all intents and purposes, dead.
* * *
If memory serves, some businessmen allied with a presidential wannabe came up with a plan to set up NIR, basically, so the wannabe could muster maximum votes from the 2 merged provinces.
The problem was it was a joke right from the start.
Why?
It was created by a mere executive order issued by Aquino, a simple creation with no personnel complement and worse, no budget provision.
The officials and staff of NIR have to beg for money from either region 6 or region 7. For instance, a regional director of NIR had to ask budget from both regions not only for salary and allowances but also for travels.
In fact, I attended one such event in Bacolod City. We were supposed to sign a MOA where we purportedly agreed to transfer funds to NIR to sustain the basic operations of the new region.
The representatives from region 6 and the newly-formed NIR had already affixed their signatures on the MOA and they were breathlessly waiting for my arrival from Dumaguete City.
When I arrived, they were extra friendly and very accommodating and fully expected my full cooperation.
When I asked for a short “briefing” though I already had a clear idea on the matter, the new director of NIR explained the mechanics of the MOA.
* * *
When I was given the chance to speak, I explained right away my objections and indicated that I would not sign the MOA.
I said the MOA was illegal and would make me and the representative of region 6 liable for technical malversation. The basis for this was the GAA, a law passed by Congress, that clearly allocated the budgets for region 6 and region 7. A mere EO could not supplement much less amend a law passed by Congress. Hence, it would be illegal for us to transfer part of our budget to NIR, without a law clearly mandating the same. The EO did not qualify, I insisted.
I also said the functions of NIR were redundant and merely a duplication of the functions already exercised by regions 6 and 7.
That ended the discussion and I left the venue right away because they were already hostile stares around the venue.
* * *
Of course, I was emboldened in saying so because earlier, I had a chance to confer the issue with PRRD and I asked him about his plans for NIR.
And he told me, di ba gipamolitika ra man nang NIR? Kay napildi man ang nagpasiugda ana, angayan lang na nga i-abolish.
Di ba EO ra man na, he asked me.
When I said yes, then he said he would instruct then Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to draft an EO that would revoke the EO creating NIR.
And that’s the end of it.
* * *
Much later, I also had a chance to talk to Governor Roel Degamo on his views about NIR.
And he was brutal enough in saying that the said region was beset with so many serious and grave issues and concerns.
Pananglit, he said, unsaon man pagbahin-bahin ang mga regional offices sa NIR? Unsaon man nimo pag-justify kon asa mag-opisina ang mga regional offices, bahinon ba o mas daghan didtos pikas?
Sa among hisgot-hisgot, gusto man nila nga daghan nga mga opisina adtos pikas kay mas dako og mas dato daw sila kay sa Negros Oriental.
Daghan pa nga mga problema, he volunteered.
Di man parehas og sinultian ang duha ka rehiyon, binisaya ang ato, inilongo man ang ila. Sa communications pa lang, dako na nang problema kay di man pod ko mosugot nga inilongo ang himoon nga alternate language.
* * *
This time around, it would appear that Governor Degamo has not changed tack – supak gihapon siya sa NIR.
And I suppose his bases are the same.
And if I may be daring enough, I would venture to say nga hanap pas alkitran ang tsansa nga mabuhi og balik ang NIR.
* * *
Reports said the 3 congressmen of Negros Oriental are amenable to the proposal.
I am not surprised.
Daghan ang nagsulti nga kadaghan na mahitabo nga di gyod magkahiusa ang mga hunahuna sa 3 ka congressmen og sa gobernador.
Normal ra kaayo nga di sila magkaparehas og hunahuna kay lain baya sila og partido, a close friend told me.
Ah, okay.
Case closed.
* * *
If NIR will materialize, the new region will emasculate the present composition of region 7 because Negros Oriental and Siquijor will be removed and will leave only Cebu and Bohol to compose the region.
Daghan kaayo ang mausab og mahitabo na.
If NIR will materialize, this will entail a budget allocation for the new region. Without a budget, the NIR will be inutile and its creation will serve no tangible purpose, save perhaps, politics.
Kon maghisgot og budget para sa NIR, asa man magkuha og kwarta para ana?
Yes, sa budget issues pa lang, gubot pas lukot ang maong plano.
* * *
Mosugot kaha ang probinsiya sa Siquijor sa maong plano?
Mas makaayo kaha sa kalamboan sa Siquijor ang maong plano?
Or, unsa may kaayohan nga ilang makuha kon ibalhin sila from region 7 to NIR, naa ba?
Mas matagad ba ang ilang panginahanglan kon ibalhin ang Siquijor from region 7 to NIR?
Kon walay klaro, I doubt if Siquijor will agree to the plan to revive a new NIR.
