ILOILO CITY – Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. said on Thursday, June 20, that Iloilo’s relationship with Negros Occidental will stay strong amid the passage of the law that created Negros Island Region.
ILOILO Gov. Arthur 'Toto' Defensor Jr. speaks on the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) during a June 20, 2024 press conference. (Tara Yap)
“Our ties will not change. Commerce will remain the same,” said Defensor during a press conference.
“They will remain to be our relatives. My mother is from Negros Occidental. I’m sure there’s a lot of us who have relatives there,” added Defensor.
Iloilo has strong historical and cultural ties with Negros Occidental. Many who established key sugar plantations in Negros Occidental came from Iloilo.
In Negros Occidental, many people speak Hiligaynon, the language of Ilonggos. People speak Cebuano in Negros Oriental.
Under Republic Act No. 12000 or NIR Act, the province of Negros Occidental, including its capital Bacolod City, will no longer be part of Western Visayas region.
Negros Occidental will join the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor which is part of Central Visayas.
The governor said he supported the creation of NIR even when he was still congressman of the third district of Iloilo and a member of the Visayan bloc.
“I am happy for Negros. The creation of a new administrative region is for better delivery of government services,” said Defensor.