Three national government agencies have met to complete the staff work on the proposed Negros Island Region, according to Interior & Local Government Undersecretary Austere Panadero told reporters in Bacolod City last week.
Panadero said the DILG, the National Economic & Development Authority, and the Department of Budget & Management will prepare a report for submission to President Aquino III.
The report will contain the inputs generated by the various public forums and consultations that were held in both Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental in 2014 and on the first two months of 2015.
Officials of Negros Occidental and Oriental are asking the President to create the Negros Island Region by Executive Order.
Under the proposed One-Island Region, the two Negros provinces, still headed by their respective governors and other elected officials, will detach themselves from their present political grouping.
Negros Oriental is currently part of Region 7 or Central Visayas, while Negros Occidental is part of Region 6 or Western Visayas.
Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and officials of both Negros provinces also reportedly planning to seek an audience with the President next month to press their call for the creation of an island region. (PR)
