243 execs united in one-Negros region call

KABANKALAN CITY, Negros Occidental—At least 243 officials and sectoral representatives from the two Negros provinces— Occidental and Oriental—have called on President Aquino to create the Negros Island region through an executive order.

They signed a manifesto on Friday calling for the creation of a region that would be composed of the two Negros provinces.

The signatories took part in a summit at a resort here, which brought together local officials and sectoral representatives from the two provinces, for their inputs on the proposed one-island region.

In the manifesto, the signatories asked the President to order the setting up of a regional center in a strategic location on Negros Island to be determined by the two provinces.

The manifesto said that after 20 years of consultations that started in 1994, officials and leaders of the two provinces are reviving a plan to integrate the two provinces into a one-island region.

This, the manifesto said, would speed up delivery of basic services, foster equitable distribution of resources and promote rapid socioeconomic growth.