The Negros Oriental chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines has urged President Aquino to create the 1 Negros Island Region.
The stand of the LMP Negros Oriental was contained in a resolution addressed to President Benigno Aquino manifesting their strong support for the proposal, which, it said, will be in the best interest of the people of Negros Oriental.
LMP Resolution No. 2014-11, was signed by league secretary Hazel Ruanda Billones and attested by president Billy Bentham dela Cruz.
The resolution, passed on motion of Zamboanguita Mayor Kit Mark Adanza and seconded by Ayungon Mayor Edsel Enardecido, was signed by 13 of the 19 municipal mayors of Negros Oriental.
In their resolution, the LMP said the proposal to create and merge Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental into one region, separating them from Region VI and Region VII, respectively, has been sought for more than 20 years.
The LMP cited the benefits of a one-island region as outlined in an independent study conducted by Silliman University and the various consultative forums conducted throughout the island of Negros.
After the conduct of a series of consultative forums and having been furnished a copy of a comprehensive study conducted by Silliman University, courtesy of Dr. Ben Malayang III, the LMP finds it strongly beneficial for Negros Oriental to become part of Negros Island Region, the resolution added.
An integrated sustainable socio-economic and industrial development of Negros Island Region with consequent employment opportunities for the Negrenses will result when regional planning, project and program implementation are focused exclusively for the Negros Island, the league resolution said.
It also said that to remedy an anomalous situation, being the only two provinces in the entire Philippines that do not belong to the same region, the resolution said the intended merger will promote an efficient environmental management planning, considering that the two provinces share contiguous forest with its wildlife, mountain ranges and river basins, and the effects of climate change that cut across political boundaries.
The One Negros Island Region will enable the conservation of the remaining forest and its wildlife at a higher rate of success, and the more efficient management of the river basins and its tributaries, decreasing vulnerability to the effects of climate change.
Copies of the Resolution will be furnished Governor Degamo and Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. for their information and guidance.
