The Diocese of Dumaguete in the Province of Negros Oriental has opposed the creation of Negros Island Region (NIR) and asked President Marcos, Jr. to veto Senate Bill Number 2507 for alleged lack of proper public consultation.  

In an open letter to the President released by the Diocese of Dumaguete, members of the clergy stated their position on the proposed NIR creation. 

According to Bishop Julito Cortes, the Senate bill was passed despite a lack in information dissemination and public consultation. 

“Regrettably, the passage of the bill has been marred by a lack of comprehensive information dissemination and meaningful consultation with the diverse sectors and stakeholders of Negros Oriental. As custodians of democracy, it is the people’s inherent right to be fully informed and actively engaged in decisions of such magnitude, for they shape the trajectory of our collective destiny,” Bishop Cortes said in the letter.  

The diocese urged informed discourse on the proposed merger of three provinces - Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor which was once a sub-province of Negros Oriental. 

“Furthermore, we urge consideration of the disproportionate impact this proposal would have on the less privileged segments of our society. The creation of the NIR threatens to exacerbate existing inequalities, as Negros Oriental finds itself disadvantaged by its fewer districts and cities compared to Negros Occidental. The asymmetry in representation and resource allocation could perpetuate systemic injustices, further marginalizing vulnerable communities,” the bishop added. 

Cortes cited of a 2014 survey conducted by Silliman University that underscored the “pervasive lack of awareness and mixed sentiments regarding the proposed merger.”

The findings, he said, reveal that of a significant portion of respondents opposed to the NIR initiative (43.34 percent), those who supported it (25.83 percent) are even lesser than the undecided ones (30.83 percent).

“This palpable apprehension underscores the imperative for thorough deliberation and inclusive decision-making processes,” Cortes further stated. 

Moreover, he underscored of the “perplexing inclusion of the Province of Siquijor in the NIR despite its distinct identity, language, and geographical separation from Negros.”

“The omission of proper consultation with the people of Siquijor further compounds the legitimacy of this endeavor. This is the expressed sentiment of all the priests of the entire island of Siquijor,” the bishop underlined. 

Cortes said that the voice of the people must not only be heard but duly acknowledged. 

“Our plea is not born of mere dissent, but rather from a sense of duty to safeguard the future of our beloved province. The church’s sole concern in this matter is to ensure that the voice of the people is not only heard but also duly acknowledged and accorded the justice it rightfully deserves,” he also expressed in his letter.

Negros Oriental Governor Chaco Sagarbarria said he respects the opposing stand of the Diocese of Dumaguete to the NIR creation, and pointed out that constituents need not worry about the location of regional offices of national agencies.

He pointed out that once the NIR is created, regional offices will be located in two provinces. 

Satellite offices, he said, will be created as well for the province situated far from the regional offices. 

 “There is not much to lose but more to gain,” Sagarbarria in his earlier interviews stated.