Presidential adviser brings ‘ray of hope’ to Negros

BACOLOD City – Government is pouring in more projects to the Visayas, including the Negros Island Region, according to Presidential Adviser for Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino.

It was Dino who first disclosed last year that the island region might be dissolved due to “budget constraints.”

During Negros Press Club’s induction of officers at the SMX Convention Center on April 8, Dino admitted that “the NIR has been a problem, a confusion” in the Cabinet.

But he also said housing projects for the poor, the police and the soldiers will be put up in the Visayas, including Negros.

The procurement process for the P32-million flood master plan in Bacolod City has started, too.

The Office of the President and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) already approved the project, said Dino.

Flood control projects in San Enrique, Negros Occidental are also under way.

According to Malacañang officials, President Rodrigo Duterte was inclined to issue an executive order (EO) dissolving Negros Island Region due to lack of budget. There was no such EO as of press time.

Department of Budget and Management secretary Benjamin Diokno later said operating the island region is “expensive,” requiring P19 billion annually.

But contrary to what Diokno claimed, “when I talked to the leaders in Negros, they said the region can operate with just P1 billion annually,” said Dino.

On May 29, 2015 t hen president Benigno Aquino III signed EO No. 183 creating the island region, effectively pulling out Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental from Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas, respectively.

Twenty-two national government agencies have started establishing field offices in Negros Island using budgets from their mother agencies.

Some P76.81 million had been allocated for the construction, maintenance and widening of roads and bridges in Negros, including the Su- ay Bridge in Himamaylan City, the presidential aide said.

The DPWH Region 18 also started maintenance and dredging work at the Canman-og River, a runoff area for water from other areas in southern Negros.

Local farmers are expected to benefit from an irrigation project in Bacong, Negros Oriental, too.

Negros leaders have been fervently l obbying for the retention of the new region.

Dismissed Interior and Local Government secretary Ismael Sueno was the leading Cabinet official strongly supporting the advocacy.

All documents justifying the retention of Negros Region are with Interior undersecretary Jesus Hinlo Jr., said Provincial Planning and Development Officer Ma. Lina Sanogal of Negros Occidental.

Sanogal, a member of the technical working group that studied Negros Region, said she would be “happy and grateful if Dino helps lobby for [ the retention of the island region].”

“After all, he ( Dino) is the presidential assistant for Visayas,” said Sanogal. “His voice regarding Visayas development is significant to the President.”/